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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 19, 2016

Jeremy McMurray-Mark Toomey Quintet @ Blaydon Jazz Club. September 19

Jeremy McMurray (piano), Mark Toomey (alto saxophone), Paul Donnelly (guitar), Peter Ayton (bass) & Paul Smith (drums)
(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Roly Veitch)
Jeremy McMurray and Mark Toomey made a return visit to the Black Bull with former Djangology guitarist Paul Donnelly a welcome addition to the line-up. The Teessiders are seasoned performers - one of bassist Peter ‘Tubby’ Ayton’s claims to fame is a gig with Spike Milligan and Paul Smith (drums) boasts a you-name-them-I’ve-played-with-them  CV - and this Blaydon Jazz Club date was all about Bird.  

All about Bird? Well, Mark Toomey plays authoritative Charlie Parker-inspired alto, and there is no getting away from it…thankfully. A man of few on-stage words, Toomey took turns with pianist McMurray to announce the tunes. Kicking off with Au Privave, they hit the ground running, taking off into Birdland, a round of solos introducing the band to the select Blaydon audience. A broader offering unfolded with Latin-infused selections and a standard or two. Lover Man up-tempo, There Will Never Be Another You (Toomey unable to resist a Bah bah you/ewe quote), and the altoist firing on What’s New?

Guest Paul Donnelly upped the ante leading off on Four Brothers. A Djangologist turned bebopper, the harmonic language fully assimilated, this was great guitar playing. To close the first set Toomey dipped into his soul jazz bag, pulling out Work Song. Paul Donnelly shone once again, Wes Montgomery would have been impressed!

An out of town party arrived, baulked at the extortionate door charge, retiring garrulously to the adjoining bar to continue their conversation. Jazz fans? Not really, ‘out on the hoy’ is the expression. Toomey began the second set with Ornithology prompting the note: He knows his way around the alto! Similarly, Donnelly found his way around the fret board with consummate ease on Joy Spring and again on A Day in the Life/Black Orpheus. The man at the keys, Mr Jeremy McMurray, is familiar with the 88s and a sense of enjoyment is evident in his playing. On this Blaydon date he peppered solos with fleeting quotes. No time to stop and think: That was… just go with the flow. If one tune is heard at the Black Bull more than any other it could well be Stella by Starlight. The McMurray-Toomey set list just happened to include the tune and met with audience approval. One of the all time great numbers. The quintet closed the evening on Wee. Mark Toomey’s gigs on Tyneside are few and far between. Next time, get along to hear some first rate alto playing.

Next month sees the return of Vasilis Xenopoulos. The London-based Greek saxophonist is one of his generation’s finest exponents of swinging, mainstream tenor saxophone. His friendship with pianist Paul Edis brings Vasi ‘up north’ on an annual basis. Last year they played a memorable gig at the Black Bull. The place was understandably packed out. There is every prospect of October’s visit (Sunday 23) resulting in another full house at Blaydon Jazz Club. Xenopoulos and Edis will once again be working with Andy Champion (bass) and drummer Russ Morgan. Four top class musicians, this promises to be one of the gigs of the year. The first set starts at 8:00pm. Admission a mere £7.00., pay at the door. You haven’t been to a jazz gig in years but you regularly read this blog? Right, here’s the plan …switch off the television (and PC), all roads lead to Blaydon. No excuses!

Russell.          

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