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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 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

17972 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 293 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (April 22).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

Sat 26: Durham Alumni Big Band @ Number One Bar, Darlington. 12 noon. Free (donations).
Sat 26: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 26: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Elvet Methodist Church, Durham. 7:30pm. Tickets: £12.00. + bf. Duo performance.
Sat 26: Neil Cowley Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.50.
Sat 26: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 27: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Paul Susans, Russ Morgan.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: JustKing Jones @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.50. JustKing Jones (alto sax, soprano sax); Jordan Williams (piano); Jason Clotter (bass); Malcolm Charles (drums). Ace NYC outfit!
Sun 27: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 27: Swing Manouche @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00. Tickets from 01665 711388.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Ken Marley, Russ Morgan.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: International Jazz Day @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £16.00.; £14.00. adv.. Feat. Guido Spannocchi, John Pope & Steve Hanley + Take it to the Bridge participants + Open Mic Night participants.

MAY 2025

Thu 01: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Member’s Contribution.
Thu 01: Alabaster de Plume @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 01: Living in Shadows + OUTRI @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: The Shayo Experiment @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Shayo Oshodi & Liam Oliver.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free.

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 12, 2016

Motherese + Zoe Gilby Trio + Jennifer Parry @ The Lit & Phil - March 8.

(Review/photos by Ken Drew)
The second in JNE’s Women Make Music series for 2016 performed at the Lit & Phil, Newcastle, on International Women’s Day featured three bands.   
Motherese  - Aby Vulliamy (v); Laura Cole (p); Maria Jardardottir (voice)
 A set comprising all-original music written for this Women Make Music performance (with an eye on taking it on tour I’d imagine).  Starting with ‘JFDI’ an expressive piece which although having quite a bouncy rhythm, had many lyrical sections, along with appropriate outbursts which conveyed the meaning of the title.  An excellent start by the trio, all on form from the start.
Second tune was by Laura (with assistance from others at home apparently).  A dramatic format from the piano providing a background to the random interjection of words. This piece came together very well, leaving a strong impression but with some eerie sounds too, leading to a quite intense section with Laura leading on the piano, then more vocalese culminating with a simple piano finale.   Quite an epic piece all round, making good use of the acoustic properties of the Grand piano.
Then a short improvised piece by all the women performers of the night ‘Unfinished Sentences’. Speaks for itself - a reflection of the domestic environment! 
Back to the trio, a folksy intro (really?  Yes it was) sang in perfect 3-part harmony.  Very lyrical with clear vocals segueing into an improvised section then back to the simple but lyrical 3-part harmony. Quite an extended complex piece, and well received!
Continuing with ‘Oops Dolores’ selected by the audience who took the offer of a ‘challenging’ piece from Aby.  Introduction by Aby providing a strong staccato riff on violin, then with vocal and piano accompaniment – part scored and part improvised.
And finally time for a concluding piece. The intro was a simple canon (3 part harmony again)  then over to the piano for the full introduction. Again, Laura really made use of the Grand – producing a beautiful sound both masterful and near-anthemic. The song was about ‘endings’ and ‘starting something new’, itself ending with the simplicity of the vocal harmony.   
A great set, warmly received and much appreciated by the audience.
This was preceded by Jennifer Parry with her experimental interactive Multi-Media performance.  The scene was set – a covered but self-illuminated figure knelt in front of the video screens, two displaying a journey along a railway line, the third a serene seaside beach scene.  The accompanying sound a mix of distant rain forests and its noisy inhabitants, overlaid with throbbing rhythms and vaguely tuneful riffs – ok, it’s a layered  soundscape with an occasional voice repeating ‘Is this  Real?’.   The figure rises, and slowly interacts with chosen members of the audience, whispering to each, and passing a ‘gift’ then moving on.  The music builds in intensity until finally the throbbing fades leaving only the sounds of the distant rain forest.  The final question remains – ‘Is this Real?.   The audience reflects on the 15-minute performance, then applauses enthusiastically.  Well, it makes you think!
The evening began with The Zoe Gilby Trio   Zoe Gilby (vocals); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (bass) with her own compositions, including new material for this performance.
Starting with ‘Breathing’, from her solo loop project, a very slow and sultry rendition with very clear vocals perfectly matching the acoustic setting of the Lit & Phil.  Then a short segue of vocalese and ethereal guitar sounds into ‘Believe’ (surely this is self-penned?).  Captivating!!!  Vocals sitting perfectly above the bass and guitar which provide a subtle but discernible   vehicle for the vocals to ride on. Yes - it was self-penned.  Nice one!!
Next, a cover version from a Peter Gabriel album (Scratch) ‘Mother of Violence’.  Again clear vocals above the bass (bowed) and guitar.  The final song was an extended version of ‘Red City’ starting with a seque-type introduction, setting the scene of the streets of Marrakech including the sounds of the street and distant wailings. Then into the song proper, at a wonderfully laid back pace, then the outro.  An absolute Class performance!!  This should be released as an EP, and then nominated for a Mercury Prize. 
 Overall, a superb acoustic performance by the trio, matching perfectly the acoustics of the Lit & Phil and the celebration of Women in Music.  With Zoe providing a variety of musical styles and constantly stretching out and pushing herself to find new bounds.  And it works!!
Ken Drew

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