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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

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, May 16, 2016

Early Birds Band @ Lit and Phil - May 14.

Paul Edis - alto, piano, MD. Ben Lawrence - trumpet. Nick Caughey - tenor. Francis Tulip - guitar. Dan Lawrence - bass guitar. Mathew MacKellar - drums. James Metcalfe - trumpet. Phil Grobe - piano.
(Review by Steven T).
With none of the mainstays there, it's fallen to me and my extended, misspent youth impaired memory to report on the latest offering from Dr. Edis and his young hopefuls. 
With the approaching departure of a couple of members he's added James Metcalfe on trumpet and Dr. Phil on piano, perhaps to replace Francis on guitar and to free up Paul to further beef up the horns.
This hit immediately on opener Maiden Voyage by Herbie Hancock with two trumpets, alto and tenor coming over more like a classic funk band horn section  than soloists, although all delivered accomplished solos during the course of the morning.
No reflection on the trumpet players whatsoever and I know they'll forgive me if, for once, I single out Nick for his lovely, uncluttered, effortless, natural sound; more Lester Young or Ben Webster than Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Rollins or Trane. When I arrived just before they went on, he was sat playing his horn in an exact Pres position and I wished I'd had a pork pie hat to stick on his head.
Soul is not something you can learn, practice or fake and when it intersects with technique and composition (including improvisation) is when Jazz becomes the Great American/C20th Art Form. Shame he's not pursuing music as a career but great he's sticking around.
Couple of birthdays in the audience changed the format a little and the rest of the band left Francis and Paul on piano to play Vignette, a Paul original for Francis' mothers $%"&*()! birthday. The pair played this in Darlington a few weeks ago and it was magical and I hope it had a similar impact on his mother on her birthday.
Mother of Dan and Ben (or is it Ben and Dan?) also has a birthday; on Tuesday she'll be £()*&%$£ and the band played a great, fun, almost New Orleans style version of Happy Birthday.
The unsung hero of this band is often hard-working bass player Dan (or is it Ben?), always animated, his shoes off, who didn't take any solos this time but gave us an interesting reinterpretation of You've Got A Friend In Me from Toy Story, he's renamed For Friends.
Following Blues for Alice, maintaining the (Early) Bird continuum, Dan (Ben ) suggested the excellent Manteca by Dizzy, with some great quirky piano from Dr. Phil in a suitably concise solo, and ending with an excellent extended exchange between Paul on alto and drummer Mathew MacKellar.
They're back at the Lit and Phil at the same time on June 18 and July 16, supporting Sue Ferris at Ushaw on Friday, May 27, supporting the Gala Big Band in Crook on Friday July 15, opening Saturday at the Ushaw festival and the final performance of this particular line up is supporting Nigel Price at the Jazz Café on Friday, Sept. 16.
Steven T
In the picture, Francis and the Brothers Lawrence are unwinding after the gig.

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