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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ 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

Monday, April 25, 2016

Darlington Jazz Festival: Matt Roberts Sextet plays the music of Nat Adderley. April 22


Matt Roberts (trumpet), George Grant (alto saxophone), Leo Richardson (tenor saxophone), Sam Watts (piano), Simon Read (double bass) & Dave Ingamells (drums)
(Review by Russell/Photo courtesy of Shaune Eland.)
Darlington’s Matt Roberts returned from his London base to make his now customary big contribution to the Darlington Jazz Festival. This year’s event, the fifth, featured a superb sextet assembled by the amiable trumpeter. The Leeds College of Music graduate made a few calls – some of them to fellow LCoM alumni – and the band that turned up on Friday evening at the Voodoo Café played a gig that will forever live in the memory.
Last year Matt Roberts played the music of Fats Navarro, this year, Nat Adderley. Six of the best musicians to be found anywhere on the British jazz scene were at it from the down beat. Tenor man Leo Richardson tore the place apart on the opener Movin’. The crowd – a standing room only affair – whooped and hollered. Every solo, all night long, cheered to the rafters. 52nd Street is but in the imagination for most, this gig at the Voodoo Café on Skinnergate surely captured something of how it was back then.
Altoist George Grant, teased by Roberts for being in semi-retirement at thirty-something (in reality a heavy teaching commitment restricting his gigging opportunities), did just as Richardson did – he tore the place apart. Then there was Roberts, he did the same thing.
Blue Brass Groove, Little Joanie Walks (slow burning alto, walking talking bass playing by Simon Read) and a New Orleans’ marching groove with Richardson’s incendiary solo on The Popeye. Pianist Sam Watts played another blinder here at the festival. Drummer Dave Ingamells drove the band a lá Art Blakey, generating such levels of excitement that some of the more senior members of the audience were, perhaps, in danger of a cardiac arrest! Sister Caroline, Stoney Island and Bohemia After Dark maintained the momentum across two sets. More? Dizzy’s Business, Fun, Games, tune after tune. Of course the Matt Roberts Sextet finished with Work Song. Perfect.
All seats taken, any number stood at the back and down the sides of the room with a pint in hand A noticeable feature of the Darlington Jazz Festival is the level of support shown by other musicians and this gig on Skinnergate was no different. The gig was staffed by a group of young volunteers. Musicians themselves, they ran the show and did a great job. One day some of them will follow in the footsteps of Matt Roberts. Easy going, obliging, Roberts is a cracking trumpet player. Gig of the year? You bet! Next year, Matt Roberts plays the music of…
Russell.          

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