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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Wednesday, February 03, 2016

Jazz Café Jam Session - Feb. 2

(Review by Lance)
Whilst there was a gale force wind outside, they were also blowing up a storm inside and, although the jammers weren't standing ten deep at the bar waiting to give it their best shot, those that were there did themselves proud.
On drums tonight a rare appearance by Dave McKeague - he did good. Bradley and the trio got things rolling with A Weaver of Dreams and Jim Hall's Waltz New, a number that went seamlessly from 3/4 to 4/4 with no loss of momentum, swinging all the way. No More Blues then Watch What Happens.
What happened was a belter of a drum solo from McKeague.
Gilligan relinquished the piano and the brave Anyfantis took over - any pianist who follows Gilligan is brave! Nevertheless, George did okay with All of Me and Secret Love.
Enter The Broons. Father and son, bass player and pianist. Young Joel now sports a beard, not yet of Graingerlike magnitude but suffice enough to indicate he's maturing fast, rather like his piano playing which is beginning to take on a more contemporary edge. Pater Brown, his pate totally bereft of hair, gelled with his offspring on All the Things You Are and Things Ain't What They Used to be with Bradley on fire as ever.
Time for Gowland, on alto this week, to take centre stage as the house trio reassembled for Broadway - the 1940 number  - not to be confused with The Drifters' On Broadway, This tribute to the Great White Way swung.
The Chick Corea/Gary Burton number Crystal Silence wasn't a swinger but a meditative searching opus that was deservedly applauded vociferously.
Duncan Walker, on tenor this week, invited us to Take the A Train followed by a sensuous In a Sentimental Mood.
Lamb and Gowland, away from SSBB, teamed up for Bye Bye Blackbird. This was the real deal! Blistering trumpet, paint-stripping alto, pianistic perfection, rock solid basslines and kick-ass drumming.
Lamb went into ballad mode for Victor Young's Beautiful Love then Gowland joined him for Freddie Hubbard's great 'waltz' Up Jumped Spring.
As I left, Days of Wine and Roses wafted across the room - quite a night!
Photos.
Lance.
Pete Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Bradley Johnston (gtr); Dave McKeague (dms) + George Anyfantis (pno); Joel Brown (pno); Steve Brown (bs); Paul Gowland (alt); Duncan Walker (ten); Michael Lamb (tpt); Nick Kalanek (dms).

1 comment :

Lance said...

Apologies for not mentioning Nick Kalanek who sat in on drums towards the end. Great stuff, Nick!

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