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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

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 27, 2016

Kenny G @ Sage Gateshead - June 26

Kenny G (sop/alt/ten); Robert Damper (pno/keys); John Raymond (gtr); Ron Powell (perc/juggling); Vail Johnson (bs gtr/perc); Danny Bejarano (dms).
(Review by Lance).
Kenny G's sold 75 million albums and counting so it wasn't surprising that Sage Gateshead was buzzing with all three levels of Sage One occupied although, it has to be said, I recognised very few 'Jazz Heads' in the audience. So who were they? Where did they come from?
KG's previous gig was in Moscow, tonight (June 27) he's in Manchester and he's in Birmingham the following night. Perhaps the local following was augmented by those living somewhere in between Moscow, Gateshead and Manchester.
The concert began in somewhat unorthodox style with the Main Man blowing unaccompanied in Row P - two rows behind the BSH squad (Russell and I - sorry Russell, I've blown your cover!) this gave the fans the opportunity for photos without the usual clamp down on such activities by the stewards. Playing alto, it couldn't be denied he can get around the instrument. After several minutes he switched to soprano. Kenny G is in the record books for holding a note for 45 minutes non-stop (circular breathing is the trick). Last night, he didn't attempt to break that record but he did hold one note for what seemed like 45 minutes as he marched down the aisle towards and onto the stage, pausing to shake hands with members of the audience whilst still holding that one note. Musically it may not be too exciting but physically it is quite an achievement - like balancing at the top of a pole for 3 days. Showmanship!
Whilst all this was going on his band, they've been together for 25 years, were 'vamping till ready'.
At last, it was game on.
The audience loved it. Although KG blew soprano sax for most of the gig, it was his tenor playing that I found the most satisfying. A funky number with Damper in B3 mode hit the right groove as did his bossa nova blast on Desifinado although his suggestion that the audience may not have heard of Stan Getz was, to say the least, patronising but, then again, maybe this audience hadn't!
They recognised and applauded some of the catchy 'smooth' melodies that I didn't know so that made the score me 1, them 1!
The band each had their own individual features. Percussionist Powell - excitement unleashed - pounded the congas and other drums with hands, arms and elbows. Truly a tour de force and as if this wasn't enough, he took centre stage with what may have been a Pandeiro Tambourine. He cajoled amazing sounds from it whilst performing complex juggling manoeuvres with it. Stole the show! Not far behind was Danny Bejarando's drum solo - incredible!
Guitarist Raymond had some electric blasts as well as some acoustic moments during the bossa novas. Johnson's feature was a funky Wandering Star - he also took over on percussion whilst Powell Pandeiroed!
Damper was sympathetic on piano and keys, his own feature suggesting he's a star in his own right.
The night drew to a close with the leader producing an amazing soprano  solo that had the audience - well most of the audience - on their feet leading to the inevitable standing ovation.
We slipped quietly away.
Lance.

3 comments :

Steven T. said...

A lot of people I know stopped listening to 'Jazz' as it slipped into smooth, but many didn't and continued through Grover Washington Jnr to Najee and Kenny G.
Some OF these think of anything pre electric/ fusion/ Jazz-Funk/ AS 'trad' and won't listen to it. Others went Acid Jazz and the rather unpleasant Jazz Dance scene which, in may ways, is more reminiscent of northern soul, and equally slippery to pin down.
I think I'm right in saying I'm the only person from the north east end of that scene who got into the history and future of Jazz and I guarantee that, as with Benson last week, I will have known a lot of people there.

Russell said...

In response to BSH's editor claiming to know of my whereabouts on the evening of Sunday 26 June 2016, there isn't a shred of evidence indicating that I was anywhere in the vicinity of Sage One (Row N, Seat 31) on the evening in question. In view of this scurrilous report I shall be instructing my solicitor to commence proceedings with the intention of seeking substantial damages!

Steven t. said...

One of the people I know who was there was in Row 0 seat 31 and swears Russell G was on the seat in front.

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