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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

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.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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, July 25, 2016

Blue Jazz Sextet @ The Globe Jazz Bar, Newcastle – July 23

Karen Rann (soprano sax); Jeff Smith (tenor sax}; Keith Barrett (guitar); George Anyfantis (piano); Dave Parker (bass); Peter Ninnim (drums).
(Review by Steve T/photos by Debra M)
It would have been better if I could have written this up before what happened next, cos it now seems an awful lot has happened since.
It was a happy accident I was there at all, bluesman Lucky Peterson was at Sage Gateshead but not until 10.30 so a sextet at the Globe, HQ of the Jazz Coop, was a welcome stroke of luck. I arrived at 9.00 thinking I would get the first set and knowing I would have to leave around 10.00 only to be told it had started at 8.30.
Skylark, as I arrived, before Secret Love upped the tempo, some serious feedback causing some amusement among the band; and good to see musicians not taking themselves too seriously.
I counted twenty-eight in the room and maybe a few outside but somebody else counted thirty-five, so one of us (probably me) needs some maths revision. Whatever, the place was busy with people having a thoroughly good time and slightly more women than men, which is always a good thing since I'm afraid, we do take ourselves oh so seriously sometimes.
Karen Rann, nominal leader for the night, dedicated the next song to all mothers everywhere, but especially to her own who has just gone into a home due to dementia, earning sincere applause. 
Then either me or her (and probably me) had a moment as she introduced it as 'Jean' standing in for Alice in Wonderland  but I'm sure they played Some Day my Prince will Come without me noticing! It's from Sleeping Beauty - isn't it? Any pearls anyone?  
Karen introduced East of the Sun, identified by Peter Hemy, my neighbour on the barstools, as Sinatra with Tommy Dorsey and Everything Happens to me by Matt Dennis on the flipside of the 78. A little context from our elders helps enrich these nights and our lives.
Bubbly throughout, dancing away, her glasses on and off for sight reading, and totally comfortable doing the announcements, she encouraged everyone to fill their glasses during the interval as the band mingled with the audience, many clearly their friends and no bad thing either; some feet in the door who realise Jazz isn't inaccessible and stuffy. It's also strange when people don't know to applaud solos as those who do get frustrated and demonstrative, myself included.
Set Two opened with Scrapple from the Applea real toughie with solos on tenor, soprano, piano and bass, the pianist depping for the evening, bringing some great Monkisms before letting loose.
Time to go, but I wasn't going to leave during Blue Tranestarting with just soprano and piano, some uncomfortable harmonising between the saxes ‘til they got it together when it started kicking, the tenor player un-phased by the task, the understated guitar bursting from behind the piano with a fine solo, and it ended back where it began, with just soprano and piano.
I wished I could stay, wished I'd got there sooner, wished I could have a drink, but it was time to go. 
Steve T

3 comments :

Lance said...

Someday My Prince is from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Alice in Wonderland is from - wait for it - Alice in Wonderland. The two tunes do have a similar feel both being in 3/4.

Dave Parker said...

Thanks for review Steve. The final count was 40 tickets sold. It was Alice in Wonderland but the tune is quite similar to Someday my Prince will Come.

Steven T said...

I wonder what it is number 1 son has been learning. Maybe I should ask him. Mm, he's 18, maybe not.
40's terrific.

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