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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

Friday, April 22, 2016

International Jazz Day:The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra - The Music of Dave Brubeck @ Sage Gateshead 0n April 30

SNJO (MD Tommy Smith) featuring Bill Dobbins (piano) and John Nugent (alto saxophone)
(Press release)
The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) invites all music lovers to join them at Sage Gateshead on International Jazz Day, April 30, in a double celebration of world jazz, and the achievements of one of its most respected figures, Dave Brubeck.
Brubeck was an extraordinary musician who achieved enviable status as a jazz master, a brilliant composer, and as a household name. The SNJO is delighted to have this opportunity to mark Brubeck’s exceptional contribution to modern music and to warmly welcome pianist and arranger Bill Dobbins and alto saxophonist John Nugent as their special guests. 
This particular programme naturally focuses upon the hugely successful work of Brubeck’s famous quartet, and their enthusiastic exploration of unusual time signatures. It had been a conscious decision by Brubeck to delve into polyrhythmic experimentation and improvisational counterpoint. He was suitably rewarded with a million-selling jazz album in Time Out, and a lasting place in jazz history. Few, including Brubeck himself, envisaged making ambitious jazz that had such broad and enduring appeal.
Brubeck brought warmth, intellect, energy and charm to the art of jazz piano; while saxophonist Paul Desmond consistently provided concise, clear and lyrical musicianship. Together with drummer Joe Morello, and bassists Eugene Wright and Joe Benjamin, they created some of the most iconic modern jazz ever made.
The music selected for this concert will bracket the emphatic statement made on Time Out in 1959 with works from the years immediately preceding its release, and the further re-invention that followed on subsequent recordings. During this period, Brubeck was in his prime as a jazz ambassador and a composer of increasing stature. The music that has been selected for these performances is, therefore, a ringing endorsement of his vision, ingenuity, and prowess. 
The SNJO is now a force to be reckoned with as an interpretive instrument with a flair for astonishing customizations. Bill Dobbins has been specially commissioned by the SNJO to arrange all the tunes for these concerts including an exotic vista re-imagined on Rising Sun from Impressions of Japan, and a frantic vision of the Fast Life first described on Countdown:Time In Outer Space. Tommy Smith also provides his own Brubeck-inspired orchestration for saxophones of Paul Desmond's historic chorus on In Your Own Sweet Way as part of a brand new arrangement of a much-loved jazz standard.
Sage, Gateshead   0191 443 4661
(There will be pre-concert talk at 6.45 pm)

1 comment :

Paul Edis (on F/b) said...

JazzAttack are performing on the concourse on the same day 4-4:30 - some amazingly talented young musicians!

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