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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ 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

Thursday, February 09, 2017

Southport Jazz Festival: Ben Cox Band - February 5

Ben Cox (vocal), Matt Davies (sax), Jamie Safir (piano), Flo Moore (acoustic and electric bass, backing vocals), Will Glaser (drums).
(Review by Steve T/Photos courtesy of Neil Hughes, © Robert Burns)
On paper, this was the one that appealed to me the least and so it proved. Sorry guys and gal but I prefer instrumental Jazz and get my fix of singers mostly from soul.
But what a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning. I thought I'd missed the start but arrived just in time for the introductions and flitted about during Pennies from Heaven, sorting out water for my assortment of pills – the penalty of a misspent youth - trying to find out whether the hotel had forgotten my wake-up call or if I'd slept through it and what to do for breakfast.
Asda pineapple with Lead the Way, an original and not half bad, chatting about all things with Count (Tony) Eales and a lady from the Wigan Jazz Festival, my wife’s hometown though she doesn't eat pies or gamble, but knows the rules for both types of rugby.  
You Turned the Tables on Me, through the prism of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass with cappuccino followed by a much improved Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears, the first time I've heard Flo Moore play electric bass, and doing backing vocals too.
Flo is never less than impressive, ditto the rest of the band, and Cox is a safe pair of hands with an impressive range who handles an audience with ease. If he's more Bublé (dare I offer Olly Murs?) than Sinatra, it was perfect programming for this particular slot and the audience, at just about capacity, relished it.
A Foggy Day in London Town and A Nightingale in Berkeley Square were right up his street. Way of Life features Liane Carol on the record but she sat it out here.
Part two began with Ben and impressive pianist Jamie Safir with the old Motown stalwart How Sweet it Is. A short search for the rest of the band and the walk of shame as the audience jovially delivered a slow hand-clap. 
Round and Round, written for his niece, was a very impressive original followed by one of the Steely Dan hits (I think); something about Back Jack. I Get a Kick was back squarely in his comfort zone before Funny How Time Slips Away, by lots of people but you must check it by Rueben Howell, lush Country Soul and blue-eyed too, at an educated guess.
As I guarded a camera for someone, Liane Carroll finally turned up like a one-woman choir for a rousing finale, her earthy realness proving infectious and spreading through the band, exchanging scatting with Ben, some blue piano, a smoking sax solo, solid drumming and Flo Moore - 'nuff said.
Clearly a highlight of the festival for many.
Steve T.
Photos.

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