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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00-2:00pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
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: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 14: Fiona Finden’s Jazz Express @ Flash House Brewing Co., North Shields. 8:00pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan 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, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

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, June 06, 2016

CD Review: Beat This: The Lawnmowers Theatre Company

(Review by the Comeback Kid)
So here I am again, thankfully minus my gall bladder, reviewing a CD off my own bat or rather pen, if Lance Blogmaster allows it. And it’s not even a jazz CD as such, but it will be of interest to jazz fans, especially drummers and percussionists.  The Lawnmowers Theatre Company is based in Gateshead and the organisation does an excellent job of working with people who have learning difficulties who do music and drama.  I found out about this group during the Late Shows Weekend, which happens each Spring, when museums, libraries etc are open late to the public. 
The CD, a bargain at £5 for 12 long tracks, is a wonderfully varied miscellany of music produced by the glass orchestra (tubes, sheets and domes of glass, giving out tinkles, tones, ethereal sounds); drums of many timbres, plus marimba, violin and vocal input  on some tracks. The titles of the tunes are intriguing, such as Glass Eye; Jaws, Clarity. 
The opening tune is Matthew’s Journey, with a voice describing an ordinary journey to Gateshead by bus, to the accompaniment of a glass walking rhythm, which I found both amusing and strangely moving.  Jaws is an African drum piece and the voice on The Law Of Entrainment explains this musical law of rhythm which was laid down by a Dutch scientist in 1655. Samba Funk does what it says on the tin and Library Music Box consists of glass sounds with a voiceover listing shipping forecast areas, with drums and a repeated riff on the violin. A and R is all tribal drums and shouts and Tates Freilich features a Kletzmer violin. Other titles are Funk Masters; Maracatu and the oddly named final tune 10 Years Of Hair Growth.
Readers would be well advised to see these musicians in action if they are featured in the Late Shows next year as it’s a sheer delight to watch how the glass instruments are played.  The performance is in Gateshead Old Town Hall, and there is also drama in mime, singing, breakdancing,  and the evening is rounded off with a free finger buffet.
The CD was issued in 2015 and the Lawnmowers are available to perform at festivals and educational events.
Ann Alex
Aaron Moody, Adam Tait, Brendan Murphy, Claire Hills-Wilson, Dan Brunskill, David Champion, Debbie Bell, Graeme Thompson, Laura Baxendale, Matthew Dennis, Paul Armstrong, Robin Dunn, Scott Roe, Sophie Clarke (playing various glass instruments, drums, percussion, marimba, violin). With special thanks to Brendan Murphy, Rob Kitchen, World Beaters Music and Afro Reggae.

1 comment :

Steven T said...

Brendan Murphy cane into our kids primary school to teach music. I can still remember Francis conducting a large ensemble of 10/11 year olds, so definitely an influence.

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