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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

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Jazz Café Jam Session. July 19

Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Abbie Finn (dms) + Johnny 'Blue Hat' Davis (ten); Joel Brown (pno); Claire Kelly (vcl); Paul Gowland (sop); Omad Ramik (dms); Minnie Fraser (vcl); ? (pno/vcl); I - Sister (Lisa/Andrea Harrison/Penny/Jerry).
(Review by Lance).
 No shortages of surprises at The Caff's fortnightly jam session which is, of course, how it should be with a good jam and this one's as good as they come!
Outside, it had been the hottest day of the year whilst inside, an open door, an electric fan and some cool beers coupled with the cool sounds on stage ensured we were in for an enjoyable air-conditioned ride.
On drums, 20 year old sensation,Abbie Finn. After a couple of weeks sitting in, Abbie played the session as a fully-fledged member of the team. That she was following in the foot pedals of Russ Morgan, Paul Wight and Ian Forbes didn't faze her and the thought crossed my mind that if she plays like this at 20, look out world when she's 21!
Not that Abbie was the only young person swinging. Joel Brown returned after some weeks absence. Presumably, this was due to school, woodshedding or to enable his beard to grow to its present length.
Prior to Joel sitting in there was a mini set by the all-women quartet I - Sister. Fronted by singer Andrea Harrison  and backed by Lisa on guitar and Penny and Jerry on bass and drums - or vice versa - I - Sister gave a soulful performance that encompassed On the Sunny Side of the Street, Stevie Wonder's Another Song, The Sweetest Rose, written by Lisa and, after demands for more, You Can Look. Andrea, in a previous incarnation, was known as Hannah Jones and fondly remembered from gigs at King's Hall, Newcastle, and Corner House, Heaton, circa 2004.
I - Sister, remember the name.
'Blue Hat' joined the house band for Mercy! Mercy! Mercy! followed by a trio set led by the aforementioned Joel. With a 16-year-old and a 20-year-old on the stand, Paul Grainger, whose birthday it is today (July 20) has probably had more birthdays than the pair of them combined!
Autumn Leaves; Someday my Prince Will Come and It Could Happen to You were the test pieces and all passed with flying colours.
Claire Kelly seems to commute between Thailand and Newcastle as frequently as Colin Aitchison does from Hong Kong. Claire's ever maturing voice did justice to This Masquerade, a Carmen McRae number, Tiptoe Gently and West Coast Blues. Gilligan was back on piano - he really is on fire these days - Grainger, Abbie and 'Blue Hat' kicked in to give Claire the best backing she'll get this side of Bangkok.
Paul Gowland showed with soprano for I'll Remember April demonstrating once again his versatility spurred on by the dynamo behind the kit. Summertime - seasonal excuse I suppose - had an awesome cadenza at the end that fully justified the choice of tune! So long was the cadenza that it was little surprise that the next number was Autumn in New York!
Another visitor, Omad Ramik took over on drums and it was good to see him back in town again.
A pianist/singer whose name I didn't get played a couple then Minnie sent me home with The Very Thought of You and God Bless the Child (and the 27 bus).
Photos.
Lance.

1 comment :

Minnie Fraser (on F/b) said...

What a brilliant jam it was last night! :-D

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