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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

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.

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: 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

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Nicola Farnon Trio @ Gala Theatre, Durham - April 14

Nicola Farnon (double bass & vocals), Paul Edis (piano) & Russ Morgan (drums)
(Review by Russell/photos courtesy of Brian Ebbatson)
Good Friday. The Gala Theatre. ‘House full’ signs. What’s new? Monthly lunchtime jazz sessions at the Gala Theatre sell-out in advance, it’s been that way for several months. Some people know a good thing when they hear it and book ahead. May, June, July and August are booking now, so, don’t hesitate. Today’s concert sold out weeks ago. Nicola Farnon arrived from her Sheffield base, said hello to Paul Edis and Russ Morgan – they were meeting for the first time – and proceeded to bring the house down.
Ms Farnon is everything a performer should be; accomplished, communicative and effervescent. A GASbook devotee, the Wiltshire born singing double bass player writes her own material and gives it 100%, winning new fans wherever she goes. Today’s programme – The trio will play a selection of tunes from the following…- couldn’t have been bettered. Meeting pianist Paul Edis and drummer Russ Morgan for the first time, Farnon could be forgiven for wondering what was in store. Those in the know – Gala regulars – knew that this gig would work and it did, big style! The Way You Look Tonight, On the Street Where You Live, tunes demanding the utmost sensitivity, Ms Farnon could scarcely believe her ears – Messrs Edis and Morgan were A listers! On a bright, if not sunny Friday afternoon, Farnon sang Moonlight in Vermont, told us about her Fever, yearning to dance Cheek to Cheek.
One Note Samba – the one with a million notes, all of them played in the right order – drew a huge round of applause, as did all of the tunes in the one hour set. Farnon’s bass playing is straight out of the ‘It don’t mean a thing’ bag, her expressive voice a delight. Your reviewer expressed delight at Farnon’s inclusion of Perfect Loverly Day, the Wiltshire burr evident in the composer’s ‘loverly’ lyric. A perfectly loverly day out in Durham.
The Gala lunchtime series continues next month with an appearance by the superb guitar duo of Mark Williams and Joel Byrne-McCullough. Master guitarists, life-long friends, Mark and Joel will play a selection of standards and an original composition or two. The date: Friday 26 May, 1:00pm. Admission £5.00. Book now or miss out. Telephone: 03000 266 600.         
Russell.

1 comment :

Steve T said...

This was precisely why the faithful turn up at the Gala every month. I've been trying to think of anybody I've ever heard do the GAS better.

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