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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

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. CANCELLED!
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.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ 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. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Friday, October 07, 2016

Riviera Quartet @ The Empty Shop, Durham - October 6.

Pete Tanton (trumpet/flugel). Mark Williams (guitar), John Pope (bass), Russ Morgan (drums).
(Review by Steve T).
We've all been there, do you go for the full set and risk a small bottle of the weakest stuff they've got, or do you put all your eggs in one set and try to lash as much ale down as you can in the allotted time before Mrs T. gets you and number two son home safely?
This was the first Jazz session at ES after a protracted summer recess - Durham students are the last back nationally - and, besides half a dozen oldies including Tony Eales, Mrs T and me, it was hanging from the rafters chocker, holding people in the bar just in case a space became available - not bloody likely!
Actually, I picked the latter option so facilitated the place for some lucky couple, no doubt grateful for my altruism.
Missed the very start as I was stuck behind MW at the bar so didn't catch the title but the second piece was You Don't Smile Anymorededicated to the returning students but there were plenty of smiles on the night from gloriously multi-cultural Durham.
If Ushaw Jazz Festival is now Durham's best-kept secret, ES still has the 'coolest' regular Jazz night in the region, and this must be one of the 'coolest' Jazz bands, leaving me wondering why we hear so little from them, or at least from their trumpet player. Maybe, like Led Zeppelin, it's all part of the plan. If so, as with Led Zeppelin, it's working.
The Cat’s Replyfollowed by Turf War which found bits of chatting amongst some newbies but, no worry, Messr Eales will no doubt get to them. The band were on form with, good natured banter between band members and the audience, Mark asking Peter if a ringtone that went off was his trumpet, but he claimed it's all the internet; isn't everything. 
A Mark Williams original to end the set - Booze Blues, appropriately enough as my lift home became imminent - found them almost in bebop territory, guitar and muted trumpet in sync before Marks best solo of the set, getting pretty rocky for him and seeming to trace black music’s transition from Jazz to a rock and roll sound which could have almost been Chuck Berry or Bo Diddley.
The rhythm section took it down for the trumpet solo followed by bass, Russ joining in for some fun and frolics between bass and drums, Pope slapping the wood on his bass inviting Russ to slip to toms – ‘nuff said - before Mark came back in, trumpet following him, un-muted for the first time.
I'd have loved to stay but had made my choice for the greater good. However, the most important lesson of the evening was, get their early.
Steve T.

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