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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

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. 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: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £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.
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: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs 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.

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, June 22, 2016

Jazz Café Jam Session - June 21

Pete Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Rob Walker (dms) + George Anyfantis (pno); Ian Forbes, Abbie Finn, Russ Morgan (dms); Paul Gowland (ten).
(Review by Lance).
Until Paul Gowland showed up late on, the horns had been prominent by their absence - not so the drummers! Tonight we had a drum masterclass by the old, the young and the in-between! Rob Walker was the house drummer tonight his drive and imagination booting Gilligan and Grainger through Sam River's Beatrice, Kenny Barron's Voyage, Autumn Nocturne and Scarborough Fair,
Autumn Nocturne is a rather special tune recorded initially by Claude Thornhill and, later, Sonny Rollins. A favourite of Gilligans, I seem to recall Alice Grace singing it with him somewhere  or other. The composer, Josef Myrow, also gave us You Make me Feel so Young.
George Anyfantis took over the keyboard stool for My Funny Valentine and Ian Forbes, as spry an octogenarian as ever lived, played drums on All of Me.
Gilligan returned for an uptempo bop number - was it Au Privavé? It swung like the proverbial.
A Beautiful Friendship did likewise until Grainger had some mechanical problems during his bass solo. A friend in need is a friend indeed as Gilligan proved by continuing the solo with his left hand on the keyboard until the hole in the boat was plugged!
Now for the revelation of the night!
Abbie Finn!
It takes a great deal of confidence for a drummer of any age to follow Rob Walker and Ian Forbes whilst knowing that Russ Morgan will be following her but, confidence and a whole lot of talent is what this young woman has in abundance.
Abbie, tutored by Ian Wynd and now studying at Leeds College of Music, came through the ranks of the Durham County Youth Big Band and it showed across a varied set of numbers - swing, latin, 3/4 driving the guys along. Powerful, yet sympathetic, listening, contributing. It's moments like these that bring that much-bandied phrase, The Sound of Surprise, to mind.
There must be something in the air at Leeds!
Russell Morgan took over, knowing he had a hard act to follow, but of course, pro's like Russ can handle anything as can Paul Gowland who gave a Tubby Hayes-like rendition of Oleo before it was bus time.
Another night to remember!
Photos.
Lance.

3 comments :

Ann Alex said...

How great to hear of a female drummer! All power to her sticks and brushes! Meanwhile I've been torturing people after meetings at the Globe by playing the bongos which the Globe has recently received as a gift.

Russell said...

From the sublime (Abbie Finn) to the ridiculous...

Ann Alex said...

Russell ..to say nothing about me playing the tin whistle or the ukulele...
Ann Alex

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