Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Charlie Parker was my introduction to the religion of music. And so he's always with me .'' - Downbeat November 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

17950 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 914 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Nov. 7).

From This Moment On ...

November

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Thu 04: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Seasonal/Festive Music & Songs - autumn into winter.
Thu 13: Awen Ensemble @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Jazz-folk.
Thu 13: SwanNek + Ellen Beth Adbi + Phantom Bagman @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. A BBC Introducing event.

Fri 14: Dan Johnson Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 14: Giles Strong Quartet @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £32.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 14: Guisborough Big Band @ Saltburn Golf Club. 7:30pm. £12.00 (inc. pie & peas). SOLD OUT!

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:00-9:30pm.
Sat 15: Les Frères Frangipane @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 8:00pm (doors 7:30pm). £10.00. ‘Chanson Française’. Fundraiser for Jesmond Community Orchard & Jesmond Library.

Sun 16: Jo Harrop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Duo performance.
Sun 16: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. ‘Jazz Sunday’ with special guest PETE TANTON.
Sun 16: Lorne Lofsky-Nigel Price Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Lofsky (guitar); Price (guitar); Jeremy Brown (double bass); Joel Barford (drums).
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: Lorne Lofsky-Nigel Price Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Lofsky (guitar); Price (guitar); Jeremy Brown (double bass); Joel Barford (drums).

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 17: Finn-Keeble Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

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, May 04, 2016

Ann Alex @ Cheltenham Jazz Festival: May 2 – Sort Of

A good thing about spending more time at home is that you get the chance to see and hear more television and radio than usual, hence the Bank Holiday found me listening to 2 hours of items from last weekend’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival, with Jamie Cullum on Radio 2.  His choice of records tended towards the jazz/funk end of the spectrum, and he did interviews with Corrine Baillie Rae and Darius Brubeck. Ms Baillie Rae gave a lively, pleasant interview in an attractive speaking voice, so why was I disappointed when she sang Stop Where You Are from her latest album?  It was because her singing voice sounded unnaturally forced, in a strange restrained tone.  Why do singers do this?  I think she was trying to sound like certain pop singers, and it didn’t work.  Perhaps I shouldn’t criticise other women singers, but really!  She was far more relaxed for her duet with Cullum, Put Your Records On.
Darius Brubeck was quite a different kettle of fish, not so much to say for himself, but excellent music:  Brubeck on piano of course, with Dave O’Higgins on sax, for Before It’s Too Late; then Brubeck with Jamie Cullum singing Body And Soul. Records played included Dave Brubeck’s Take Five (the drumming never fails to entice the listener, and you hear new rhythms each time you listen); Nina Simone’s  I’ll Put A Spell On You; Herbie Hancock from 1978 I Thought It Was You; Ian Shaw Come Fly With Me; Gregory Porter Don’t Lose Your Head Of Steam. And most interestingly, David Bowie, from his Blackstar album, performing with New York jazz musicians, I Can’t Give everything Away, including the prophetic lyrics, ‘skull designs upon my shoes’.
Also recommended on TV are the current Friday evening programmes of Young Musician 2016.  The percussion 2 weeks ago was great fun, some youngsters playing multiple varied drums and vibes.  Last week was brass, trombones, French horns and trumpets, including a trombonist who was shown playing Take the  A Train with Ashby big band. This Friday it’s the strings – maybe some gypsy jazz will come up among the violin sonatas.
Ann Alex

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