Total Pageviews

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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

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, November 28, 2016

The House of the Black Gardenia @ The Globe Jazz Bar - November 27.

(Review by Lance).
Upstairs, they were tangoing, downstairs, they were lindy hopping. Upstairs and downstairs they were having fun.
Which is what it's all about.
The inhabitants of the Black Gardenia House provided a raucous, raunchy, revival of good old-fashioned entertainment. The audience loved it as they danced away their shoes.
These guys (and gal) draw their repertoire from the early, exciting days of jazz and blues and dance music. The music that provided the bedrock for the music of today and it's to their credit that young musicians such as these are prepared to embrace the past as well as looking to the future. It augers well for the music we love.

Bobbi Charleston sang the blues, risque vaudeville numbers such as If You Don't Give me What I Want; I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None of my Jelly Roll and Baby Don't Tear my Clothes as well as a few reefer songs such as Viper Man and Weed Smoker's Dream a.k.a. Why Don't You do Right? A singer, well-versed in the idiom, and a washboardist too - no scrubber she!
Ben Imrye, a young man who plays mighty fine piano, also sang. He told us, I'm Satisfied With my Girl. A vocal call and response number with the band repudiating his claims in unison. His great version of the old Johnny Long hit Skirts brought the show to a close.
Where has this guy been hiding?
It was a night of discovery. Effective chording from Littlefield on acoustic - with the occasional solo slotted in. Solid sousaphone and double bass from Hopper and atmospheric drumnastics from, wait for it, Kit Haigh.
There was blistering trombone from Gray. David took his chances by the scruff of the neck and justified his nom-de-plume of 'Showtime'. We're accustomed to hearing Lamb blowing hard bop trumpet lines but tonight he was in swing era groove - move over Bunny Berigan.
Robinson on clarinet was another surprise. Normally he only dusts it off for section passages with Strictly Smokin' but tonight it was his main instrument and Artie Shaw didn't turn in his grave.
A most enjoyable evening and a good weekend for the Jazz Coop.
Remember the name - The House of the Black Gardenia.
Lance.
Prior to the gig, I was reading local author, Fiona Veitch Smith's mystery novel, The Jazz Files. Fiona should have been here, the music and her story - set as it was in the 1920's - totally complemented each other. 
Bobbi Charleston (vocal/washboard); David Gray (trombone); Michael Lamb (trumpet); Keith Robinson (tenor/clarinet/flute); Ben Imrye (piano/vocal); Michael Littlefield (guitar); Neil Hopper (bass/sousaphone); Kit Haigh (drums).

1 comment :

Dave Rae said...

It was great to see and hear those wonderful young musicians!
We had a lovely night.

Blog Archive