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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

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.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. 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.

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, February 13, 2017

Madwort Sax Quartet + Noize Choir @ The Bridge, Newcastle February 12

Madwort Sax Quartet Tom Ward (alto sax); Chris Williams (alto & soprano saxes); Mark Hanslip (tenor sax); Cath Roberts (baritone sax) 
(Review by By Steve H/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew). 
Saxophone quartets don’t come round very often so it was no surprise to see a large audience assembled at The Bridge on Sunday night. The structure allows the interplay between the ranges of saxophone – baritone, tenor, alto and soprano to provide a fascinating rhythmic and harmonic canvas. 
All the compositions played on Sunday were written by bandleader Tom Ward although my favourite of the evening After Joshua  was actually based on a Joshua Redmond tune. The band tended to play solos over the top of a backing rhythm provided in the main by the fabulous Kath Roberts on the baritone. Every so often a solo would rise out of the general maelstrom to illuminate the auditorium. Chris Williams, a frequent visitor to Tyneside, excelled on both soprano and alto in this respect. Mark Hanslip, depping for Madwort regular Andrew Woolf, did a sterling job on the tenor.  
My only reservation about this very well received performance was that with 4 great saxophonists on stage I would have hoped for some serious pyrotechnics which never seemed to materialise, having said one of the more tender numbers  On the opening of a dwarf sunflower was also one of the most enjoyable.
Earlier in the evening local group The Noize Choir performed a highly entertaining set. The group use a full range of vocal effects including breathing, coughing, wailing and humming in conjunction with microphones to produce a series of evocative percussive pieces. They literally performed the coolest piece of live music I had ever seen – this took the form of each choir member consuming an ice lolly and transmitting the effects through their microphones. The last member to finish off their popsicle gargled a magnificent solo to complete the number. This memorable performance seemed to be thoroughly enjoyed by all present – eat your heart out Gareth Malone.  
Steve H.


4 comments :

Lance said...

And there was me, sitting at home listening to Stan Getz - sometimes you can win ' em all!

Diane J said...

Really terrific evening - loved both halves. Steve you forgot to mention the Noize Choir's surprising sounds of 11 (home-made by Lindsay) ice lollies being simultaneously sucked and chomped.

stevebfc said...

I did but it seemed to have got lost in the edit!
'They literally performed the coolest piece of live music I had ever seen – this took the form of each choir member consuming an ice lolly and transmitting the effects through their microphones. The last member to finish off their popsicle gargled a magnificent solo to complete the number.'

Lance said...

Sorry Diane/Steve. Not sure what happened but it is now corrected and thank you both for drawing my attention to it.

Blog Archive