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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

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 w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
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: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

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

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Mark Williams Trio @ The Jazz Café. April 12

Mark Williams (guitar), Paul Susans (bass) & Russ Morgan (drums)
(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Mike Tilley)
At dusk a mid-November mist descended over Newcastle. As it is the month of April the unseasonal gloom perhaps persuaded some to stay indoors. The streets quiet, the pubs no different, down on Pink Lane the Jazz Café’s doors defiantly remained open for business.
Half an hour before the first set was due to start three amigos sat at the bar; Geordie Jazz (the house bottled beer), a cider and a glass of wine in front of them. The ‘three’, the trio of Mark Williams, Paul Susans and Russ Morgan, were ready and waiting. Patience is a virtue and in due course the Caff filled up nicely and the boys made a start.

Guitarist Mark Williams wouldn’t be out of place leading a band at Ronnie Scott’s or one of the Big Apple’s premier jazz clubs such as the Blue Note or the Village Vanguard. The fact that the amiable Irishman chooses to ply his trade on Tyneside is one of the glories of the Geordie jazz scene. The set list comprised now familiar original tunes and one or two new numbers. Totally in command of his instrument, his current band mates Paul Susans and Russ Morgan are, perhaps, the ideal musicians to take the music to a wider audience. Dark, brooding, prowling riffs, Williams revelled in constantly shifting time signatures, a book of chords labelled ‘advanced’ and working with two similarly talented musicians.
Weird Waltz is a dystopian lullaby; lyrical, threatening, briefly swing time. Slow, slow, breaks off, go! Williams is a man of few words preferring to let his guitar do the talking. Self deprecation suits the Irishman: It’s just a blues said Williams of Booze Blues. Just a blues? And the rest! The arrival on the scene of Russ Morgan has been a real bonus. The thought occurred that he is the drummer for this band. Word of mouth, checkout Morgan and the gig was his. Scintillating playing from all three men. Last Bus to Bensham (Colin Dexter would approve of the title!) was one of Williams’ tunes. Is it really titled Last Bus to Bensham? Probably.
The ‘Tuesday Live at the Jazz Café’ audience really dug it. From the off everyone sat or stood at the bar listening intently. Bassist Susans has worked with Williams for years and it shows – total trust, freedom to express. Swing, blues, cranked-up riffs, leftfield waltz, a free-jazz element, a listener’s gig. List your favourite musicians. Williams isn’t on it? In that case, you haven’t heard him play.                           Russell

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