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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

Wednesday, October 05, 2016

Swing Manouche with Daniel John Martin @ Prohibition Bar. October 4

Mick Shoulder (guitar), Giles Strong (guitar), Paul Susans (double bass) & Daniel John Martin (violin & vocals)
(Review by Russell).
Sage Gateshead was busy, no concert performances but much workshop activity. Tutors in folk, jazz, rock, voice and other disciplines welcomed their students in myriad rooms. Rank amateurs stood their ground alongside degree level students. Across the river jazz was sure to be thriving on Pink Lane. The Jazz Café’s regular jam session would attract who knows who? See the editor’s review of the evening’s comings and goings.

Meanwhile, Gateshead’s Prohibition Bar, approaching its first anniversary (Halloween!) on Rue de Brandling, opened for business. A chalked advertising board read: Parisienne Jazz. Yes, ‘Baby Face’ Mitchell’s South Bank speakeasy sought to capture something of Paris’ Left Bank (circa 1940). In town tonight, the remarkable Daniel John Martin. Have violin, will travel, and so he does. An engagement the previous evening in Liverpool, the Paris-based Englishman arrived on Rue de Brandling to meet up once again with Swing Manouche. Gateshead, then Bishop Auckland, Hexham and on to Cumbria, four dates in five days. Bon!

Django’s Anniversary Song (circa 1950) and a liberal helping of GASbook material gave an indication that the formative years of the Hot Club canon wouldn’t dominate the two sets. Daniel John Martin is a remarkable, devil-may-care virtuoso, technically gifted with   an impish, inventive streak. Originally from Congleton, Martin linked-up once again with Mick Shoulder’s Swing Manouche. Djangologie bassist Shoulder plays guitar in the band alongside fellow six-stringer Giles Strong, with Paul Susans assuming double bass duties. Shoulder’s abilities as a guitarist are on a par with other key figures on the north east Hot Club scene (Birkett, Johnston, Harris), and as a tunesmith Martin was more than happy to include a Shoulder composition in the set list. Django did, of course, feature, J’attendrai, then Swing 42 amongst others but it was Martin’s singing that delighted the audience just as much as his virtuosity as an instrumentalist; Night and Day, It Had to be You and DJM harmonising violin and voice on There Will Never be Another You.

Martin liked Prohibition Bar. The barman (attired in speakeasy garb!) was celebrating his birthday. A chocolate cake (one candle!) later to be devoured to one side, proprietor Baby Face Mitchell held the reigns (dog lead, actually- the barman’s real life, loveable mutt) as his employee took to the floor with his partner. The couple happen to be Lindy jazz dance enthusiasts. Boy! They could dance! Swing Manouche with Daniel John Martin will be at Bishop Auckland Town Hall tonight (Wednesday). To book your ticket telephone the box office on 0300 0269 524 for a seven thirty start.

Russell.     

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