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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 2024.

The Things They Say!

Hudson Music: Lance's "Bebop Spoken Here" is one of the heaviest and most influential jazz blogs in the UK.

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Postage

16287 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 169 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (Mar 18).

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Saturday, May 07, 2016

Peter Gilligan Quartet: Empty Shop Durham - May 5.

Pete Gilligan (keys); Mark Williams (gtr); Paul Grainger (bs); Russ Morgan (dms).
(Review by Stephen T)
I was determined this would be a concise review; the band are all well known to readers of Bebop Spoken Here so a quick review and a bit about the venue. Oh well, best laid plans and all that.
Some time ago I told Paul Edis that the Empty Shop (ES) in Durham hosts the ' coolest ' regular Jazz night in the region. He hadn't played there at the time but has since though I don't know if he agrees. The venue is Durham’s best kept secret and boasts an international crowd (is that the pc way of putting it?) of students, professionals, tourists and well-behaved locals. Its selectivity is maintained by a hidden location, a locked door, the ringing of a bell and being checked out before entrance is granted.
On Jazz nights the door is open and you'll be greeted by Carlo (bottom right), a very amiable chap who has developed a passion for Jazz since the night started. There's no home comforts like paint, fancy furniture or carpets, though there is a rug for the drum kit, but inside you'll be welcomed by his delightful girlfriend, Allison (bottom left), and a wide range of reasonably priced beverages, including for vegetarians and vegans. An establishment with principles and this extends to the music policy too.
There' a Jazz group on every first Thursday of the month in association with the Jazz Co-op and another in between which could be any act who can play 2 forty five minute sets and Tony Eales, roving oracle of all things Jazz in the North East has arranged some excellent stuff, including Sue Ferris and Infusion.
At the seminar on the Philosophy of Improvisation (part of GIJF) Paul Bream spoke on the difficulties of promoting Jazz in the North East but ES has a different problem; trying to keep numbers down so they don't have to turn people away. This is why they introduced the second night, to try to spread the audience; they do virtually no advertising and have increased the cover charge to £5 for non-students.
It holds about 100 but only about 40 where the bands play, there's a side room but its use is discouraged because people tend to feel less a part of it and conversation can become a little loud. But never fear, Tony is always on the prowl like Inspector Shutit.
The captive audience includes a lot of students though in Durham many second and third years remain in summer, many stay following graduation and many lecturers are regulars. However, numbers inevitably drop during holidays but we always manage to attract a reasonable crowd by the end, sometimes by opening windows so passers-by can hear the sounds.  
On Thursday, we were pretty much full from the off.  Peter Gilligan is one of several outstanding pianists/keyboardists we're lucky enough to have in the region. I'm more accustomed to him playing the Jazz Cafe piano but modern keyboards can emulate just about any sound, including a decent approximation of an acoustic piano but, following opener Straight no Chaser which I thought had an almost Hammond sound, he unashamedly had it sounding like an electric piano reminiscent of Joe Sample in the Crusaders, a breath of fresh air when there's still some stigma regarding electricity.
His charisma, the relaxed informal exchanges among the band between pieces and his obvious enthusiasm is infectious as he bobs up and down on his piano stool, his legs bobbing up and down beneath and his head bobbing up and down on his shoulders. Two young lads at the front had beaming grins on their faces throughout both sets like they couldn't believe they were watching this at a tiny venue in the centre of Durham for £4. My own introduction to Jazz(Funk) was at a disco about ten seconds walk away in the mid/late seventies but that was just 7" and 12" lumps of plastic.
For a selection of the music they played I'm claiming immunity under the Surman Amendment, but in a suitably unpredictable set they played stuff by Kenny Baron, Renee Thomas, Joe Henderson and a Brecker. But for me they were at their best getting funky and ever so slightly rocky, not least on a Mark Williams original Tubes, his playing reminding me of Larry Carlton. The amiable Irishman is an invaluable mainstay of the local scene and with an album on the way, his trio booked at ES for July and a duo guitar set at Ushaw, there's much to look forward to from him. In relative terms I felt he let rip a touch more than with Leash but only insomuch as this band operates somewhere between the mainstream and Jazz Funk while Leash are more fully blown Jazz Rock Fusion, with greater opportunity for a heavier guitar sound. Both great local bands though.
The greatest applause went to drummer Russ Morgan when he chucked his sticks and played toms and hi-hat. Another rousing drum solo set up another Jazz Funk number which had everyone moving and went into overdrive when Mark again switched his pedal to Larry Carlton for another blistering solo.
Last piece and Mark was away again, Russ spurring him on and the leader and bass keeping the ship steady. The drummer switched to brushes for another fine bass solo from Paul Grainger; no mean feat in my mind to never play a boring bass solo, indeed, he never played a bum note all night.
Mark must have been playing around with his pedals again as I had to look between the keyboard and guitar to see who was making these strange sounds. It put me in mind of Ringo Starr talking about Tomorrow Never Knows, saying the guitar sounds like a piano and when somebody suggested they just play the piano he said the piano sounds like a guitar.
After some uncertainty whether we were getting an encore we were in for another treat. Rousing drums and yet more solid guitar before bass and keyboard came in and Mark was out for another great solo from the leader, then back in behind another fine bass solo, keyboard and guitar seemingly operating telepathically giving an abject lesson in unobtrusive comping. A splendid finale to a splendid set.
Mark's back with his trio in July so try your best to get there.  As Tony announces each time, live Jazz is good for you.
Stephen.
Any band looking for a mid-month Thursday night contact Carlo by googling (other search engines are available) Empty Shop Durham.



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