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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17744 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 64 of them this year alone and, so far, 64 this month (Jan. 26).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 27: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

Fri 31: Alan Barnes Quartet @ The Old Library, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 12 noon-2:00pm (two sets). £12.00. admission (card or cash at the door). Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums). Note change of venue, no longer at Mrs M’s as advertised, the concert will be in the Old Library (Bishop Auckland Jazz’s regular venue). Important! It’s a ‘BYOB’ arrangement - ie bring your own booze (and/or tea, coffee, soft drinks).
Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Café Orkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:00pm. ‘Klezmer, Gypsy Jazz, Balkan & More!’.
Fri 31: Nothing in Rambling @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £10.00. + bf. Country blues duo.
Fri 31 Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Wylam Institute. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £15.00. + £1.50. bf.
Fri 31: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £10.00 + bf. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.
Fri 31: Alan Barnes Quartet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00 Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 31: SwanNek + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. SwanNek’s new single launch gig. Pilgrim, formerly Hoochie Coochie.

February 2025

Sat 01: Alan Barnes & John Hallam with the Tom Kincaid Trio @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - Cy Coleman’s Witchcraft. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 01: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 01: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Rockin’ Turner Brothers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Western swing etc.

Sun 02: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 02: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 02: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free (donations).
Sun 02: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 02: Jive Aces @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:00pm. Sun 02: John Pope + Andy Champion + Ian Paterson @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Subterranean Explorations 1’. Three (half hour) solo bass sets.
Sun 02: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

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, September 12, 2016

Emma Fisk's Hot Club du Nord @ Prohibition Bar, Gateshead – September 10.

Emma Fisk (violin) James Birkett and David Harris (guitars) Bruce Rollo (Bass).
(Review by Steve T).
We're big fans of Ms Fisk and Dr B and I’d like to think we've grown from groupies to mates over many years, FDT and HDT getting odd lessons on guitar and fiddle respectively. So, my apologies to Bradley and the Globe - our original destination - and doubly so cos James confirmed he'd have been there also.
The Prohibition bar, peeing distance from Sage Gateshead, is new to me and a terrific venue for some old style Jazz and I'll be amazed if they're not back there soon.
It turned out it was a private party for one David Green, leaving Gateshead College, which they decided to open up to the public and number one wife and I were delighted they did.
An evocative setting with the staff and some party-goers dressed in period, we were transported back to the speakeasies of 1920s Chicago, but without the machine guns.
The band, in tux and posh frock (Emma only), were crammed onto a tiny stage which looked amazing, with the violin and bass stood behind the two sitting guitarists, but was tricky for Emma, though fortunately James and David both have their own hair or her more frantic fiddling moments may have been the cause of some embarrassment.   
The audience, fluctuating around thirty, chatted throughout, oblivious they weren't supposed to, but this only added 'authenticity' to the atmosphere. We applauded enthusiastically, clapped along to Dark Eyes, and some danced, and some of them did a pretty impressive Charleston.
The band were great, as always, David Harris, one of the original guitarists from Djangology (note the spelling), settling back in nicely. I know he's a big deal in Country circles, but a fine Gypsy guitarist too, seeming to take a bigger share of solos than I remember from their debut at Blaydon. Bruce Rollo is a new name to me, but never put a finger or thumb wrong, some terrific slapping going on too.
An earlier than scheduled (in BSH) start and some technical difficulties meant we didn't catch or know all the titles, though Mrs T is getting more useful at this as I become less, but we got: Someone Like You, Sweet Georgia Brown, Minor Swing, Dinah, Lady be Good with a new (to me) coda and, as always, peaking with Emma closing Nuages with her customary perfect timing, beauty and splendour. If we could bottle it, we’d hand it out at cinemas to those soaking up the latest instalment of, what George called Beatle lore, to wash up from straight, white US of A.
The remainder of the night promised hard drink and loose morals but we'd apparently forgotten Mrs Ts' driving shoes so we headed back, though I'm hopeful we'll make a return visit soon The Budtet are playing jazz standards on Friday, Sept. 23 and Big Muddy are making a return visit a week earlier on Sept. 16. The Prohibiton Bar looks like becoming a player!
Steve T  

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