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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Mon 13: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 13: Raymond MacDonald & Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £TBC.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ 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

Thursday, April 21, 2016

GIJF: Kris Bowers @ Sage Gateshead. April 16

Kris Bowers (piano & keyboards)
(Review by Russell)
Going from one hall to another, from one concert to another, without so much as one minute’s break can make it difficult to adjust to the new sound in a new environment. The Sage One double bill – Courtney Pine-Zoe Rahman and Terence Blanchard – ran over time, meaning that those wishing to attend the late night concert in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall had to dash hoping not to miss the start of Kris Bowers’ set.
Bowers had made a start. Seated at the Fender Rhodes, a Bentley piano to his left and  Nord 2 keyboard to his right, the baseball hat wearing New Yorker, head bowed, took time to construct and loop numerous hip-hop-inflected rhythms. A one-man orchestra, Bowers played a few tunes with more than a nod to indie pop culture. Guitar, bass and drums joined him to continue the indie (band) vibe. As the gig neared its end Bowers dismissed his band mates and sat at the piano. A former winner of the TS Monk prize, Bowers spoke of his love of Monk’s compositions. He couldn’t choose one favourite, said the Jay-Z collaborator, so, over the course of ten minutes or so, Bowers played a selection of Monk melodies. This was the readily identifiable jazz element in the show. Kris Bowers can play, no doubt about it. What he chooses to play is another matter.
Russell

1 comment :

Hugh said...

Yes, when events are as tightly packed in the hours available as at GIJF, it perhaps behoves performers to run to time (much as it goes against the free spirit in jazz!).

The Roberto Fonseca Trio gig, already delayed by 15 minutes because of the Sage One overrun, suffered a stream of latecomers being shown to their seats as Roberto was talking to the audience between numbers. It was most distracting.

Still, at least the Sage staff did not bring them in during the music - which was excellent - as described by Russell elsewhere on this BSH in regard to the concourse Jazz Line Up stage.

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