Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Grew Quartet + Grew Watts Duo + Grew Quintet @ Lit & Phil - March 17.

(Review/photos courtesy of Ken Drew.)
This highly anticipated double bill was quickly re-arranged into a 3-set Jazz North East treat at the Lit & Phil.
First set – the quartet – all in together from the outset.  Stephen on the piano with very extensive and dynamic use of the keyboard, along with the left hand occasionally modulating the mid-strings as the right hand continued its workout along the keyboard.   Virtually all played throughout – no ‘solo’ spots as such creating a continuously complex and energetic sound, enthralling the audience. The clarinet at times competing with the piano – each urging the other on, with bass and drums constantly underpinning the mix.  Then a quiet passage – a bass solo – plucking both above and below the left-hand finger positions. Very enthusiastic playing!   Overall, very energetic interplay, and just like the local Wylam beer, very accessible and very tasty!!   A pity it was limited to just half an hour!!  What a superb opening set.
Duo set.   Trevor blasting in from the start with nice harmonics echoing from the openly-sustained piano.   Stephen on the piano producing such pyrotechnics from one pair of hands!!  Both hands a frenzy up and down the keys, with plucked individual strings along the way, yet in total unison with Trevor throughout.  I think Trevor was ‘leading’ but Stephen was surely only microseconds behind.  Again, such dynamics were demonstrated both across the keys and inside the grand too, with many fleeting  excursions inside to pluck individual strings with the left hand – each done mid-flight as there was much work to be done on the keys.  Constantly responding to the challenge from Trevor.  What a Masterclass!!  Two pieces expertly delivered, and each ‘closed’ neatly and succinctly by mutual aural agreement.
Third set, the Quintet.  Straight in from the off again, and all playing constantly, for the most part, each adding their own expressions yet following the mood and direction of the piece as it developed.  The ‘wind’ (Trevor and Matt) occasionally converging perfectly on glissandos.  Both were giving a good blowout, and were so well matched.  Stephen’s right hand picking harp-like at the upper strings of the grand, bass and drums energetically taking their own solo spots.   All players were in unison from start to finish, and concluded with a clean, nicely developed ending.
The audience, which was of a decent size, nicely filled the Lit & Phil’s performance room, aiding the acoustics which were very clear and were amply rewarded with a superb three sets by a quartet, a duo and a quintet, each with musicians of breath-taking ability exhibiting some high-velocity workouts.  We were later told that these 5 players had never played together before. Wow!! What an introduction!!  Following the most enthusiastic applause, a concluding remark noted it was ‘an example of Empathetic improvisation at its very finest‘.  Let’s hope we see a follow-up in the not too distant future.  
Ken.
Grew Quartet: Stephen Grew (piano); Seth Bennett (bass); Phil Marks (drums); Matt Robinson (clarinets).
Stephen Grew - Trevor Watts Duo: Stephen Grew (piano); Trevor Watts (alto & soprano sax)
Grew Quintet: Stephen Grew (piano); Seth Bennett (bass); Phil Marks (drums); Matt Robinson (clarinets); Trevor Watts (alto & soprano).

3 comments :

Paul Bream said...

Thanks Ken - great review of a great gig. I'm generally very sceptical about 'Gig of the Year' accolades (there are so many to choose from), but this will undoubtedly take some beating. And the players all commented on what a great, receptive audience it was . . . but where were the local musicians? I spotted one saxophonist, one pianist and two drummers in attendance. It's not about learning, its about enjoying - although, of course, if one or two ideas rub off, well, isn't that the way that jazz has always developed?

Lance said...

I mentioned this awhile back, either on here or on facebook.
One person replied, "when I'm fortunate enough to get a night off the last thing I want to do is go to a gig!"
Seems as though it's a national thing, a friend of mine in London remarked on a similar scenario down there. Someone else said that maybe a musician who hasn't got a gig doesn't want to be seen by someone who has! I've also noted that players who do go to gigs are often the worst offenders when it comes chatting away during the music!
Possibly because so many have graduated from Jazz Education courses they feel superior to the guy who paid his dues in clubs/pubs at night after an 8 hour day in an office/shop/factory?
At one time gigs used to offer concessions to MU members.

EmmaFiskJazzVio said...

I think I commented when this came up last time. Speaking personally, as anyone else who works and has children when I'm not at work I have dishes to wash, children to feed, shopping to do, tunes to practice...I do occasionally get to a gig but life is busy!
Certainly hope I'm not guilty of any of the crimes you mention Lance!

Blog Archive