Total Pageviews

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

Monday, February 27, 2017

Sue Ferris Trio @ Bishop Auckland Town Hall - February 24

Sue Ferris (tenor sax, flute), Giles Strong (guitar), Mick Shoulder (bass).
(Review/photo by Steve T)
With similar events thriving in Durham and Newcastle, this much anticipated lunchtime session got off to a flying start with the ever amiable and soulful saxophonist and flautist Sue Ferris , accompanied by Giles Strong and Mick Shoulder, who seems to be chief organiser, bass player, guitarist, bottle-washer and maybe even tea and coffee maker.
And very welcome the tea and coffee was too, though from the band only the lady herself was able to avail herself of this extra added touch, while her sidemen soloed; the rewards of superstardom.
To my mind, she's one of the unmissables on the North East scene, alongside Lord Paul, AC and the Jelly giant. Down to tenor and flute for this short one hour set but demonstrating her virtuosity and laying her soul out there and the crowd, which hit twenty with the arrival of first reserve Alan Barnes’ sparring partner Dennis the legend, loved every minute.
Mick and Giles have become the Ant and Dec of North East jazz and while I know which is which on the TV, I'm not quite sure when they share the Jazz Bandstand.
Of course Mick's a seriously safe pair of hands, continuing to show his quieter side, as with Barnes a week or two back, but also getting a twang going illustrating his rockabilly leanings from a former life.
Giles is proving himself a very versatile guitarist across the various bands he features in, here demonstrating a very clean sound on his clear Benson imprint Ibanez.
The set featured classics and usual suspects from the GAS including Just Squeeze Me, So Nice to Come Home To, All the Things you Are, Song for my Father, Sunny Side of the Street and Sue switching to flute for Witchcraft and Black Narcissus, but the instruments brought a slightly different twist, though each soloed in turn, proving the adage that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Numbers meant we were downstairs amongst the paintings, but if the numbers rise we could see it moved to the theatre upstairs. Forthcoming opportunities for promotion in Crook and Bishop’s appropriate imbibing holes, and with Lord Paul himself playing clarinet alongside Mick and Giles next month, let's hope for steady growth. I know I'm at work, but I suspect everyone else who was there will be back and will hopefully bring their friends and family.
Steve T.

No comments :

Blog Archive