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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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, December 12, 2016

The Blue Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, December 10

Jeff Smith (ten sax, sop sax); Keith Barrett (guitar); Dave Parker (bass); Michael Howard (drums)
(Review by Ann Alex/Photo courtesy of Minnie Fraser).
The band is normally a quintet/sextet with piano and/or soprano sax but tonight’s rearrangement worked well, with the sax mostly taking the lead followed by solos all round. All performed with the skill and aplomb that we’ve come to expect from this band, especially in the second set, where the audience doubled with the entrance of a group of young men who’d found out about the Globe from Mr Google. I hope they come back soon.
No Moon At All (an intriguing lyric, by the way), followed by Barrett’s guitar lead on West Coast Blues, with simultaneous sparse notes from tenor sax, and a skilled guitar solo.
The Shadow of Your Smile, done as a bossa nova, with Michael making his mark on drums. In fact, some of the best numbers of the set were Latin or bebop inspired tunes, such as Jelly Roll (Mingus), with military drums to begin with, a typical angular tune, rounded off with loud tapping drumsticks and the bass complementing each other. I also liked Footprints, a bass opening, which became repeated riffs with the rest of the band, then a bass solo. I missed the title of the boppy tune in which the drums went somewhat berserk by producing all the sounds possible from the drum kit during exchanges of 4’s. 
The band obliged with Moanin’ as an encore; all did signing off solos, including the drums, with lots of cymbal sounds to help the other solos along. The other tunes played included Watch What Happens; Can’t Help Loving That Man Of Mine; East Of The Sun; Bye Bye Blackbird; Blue Monk; Alice In Wonderland.
Oh, I forgot to mention Skylark which was serenely played with two choruses from the tenor sax, and an excellent guitar solo, which had a calming effect amongst all the bebop numbers. Another great night at the Globe.
Ann Alex

1 comment :

Steve T said...

Looks like I picked the wrong weekend for a hospital visit.

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