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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

Friday, May 12, 2017

BABMUS @ The Jazz Café - May 11

(Review by Russell)
A bumper BABMUS session. Sage Gateshead students’ regular gig at the Jazz Café on Pink Lane took on an extra dimension with the presence of tutors in assessment mode. It’s that time of year… students getting the beers in, partying…sorry, studying late into the night, burning the midnight oil,   future careers at the forefront of their minds. The upstairs room comfortably full, Paul Edis handed an unsuspecting Thomas Dixon MC duties for the evening. Saxophonist Dixon thanked Dr Edis for putting him on the spot…a sink or swim moment!
BA and BMus students gathered in the upstairs room on Pink Lane, the place buzzing with a sense of anticipation. The evening would comprise a series of quick fire small group performances (tutors making notes on laptops…A+, D-, or perhaps they were shopping lists…a pound of carrots, cereal,  etc), culminating in a BABMUS big band finale. Dixon introduced his fellow students as they took to the stage. On this occasion your BSH reviewer determined name checks were unnecessary (with a quartet the exception, of which, more later), the examinees were in the spotlight, pressure enough! Some performers didn’t have a collective name.  A second’s thought, and a new name devised for the occasion would suffice. Jazz Hands, Time Wasters, Blue Strap and Radgie Little Gangsters, on the spot monikers! Tunes ranging from I Got Rhythm and Feeling Good to All Blues and Blue Boss. The latter isn’t a typo, Blue Bossa became Blue Boss. From the Gershwins and Kanye West to the familiar Miles and equally familiar Bruno Mars (for those of the Millennial generation), a composers’ who’s who?
The examiners listened to vocalists, brass and reeds, pianists, guitarists, bass players, drummers, all manner of instrumentalists. Supported by a cheering on-side audience, all acquitted themselves well. Some of the examinees have sat in at the Jazz Café’s high octane jam session (first and third Tuesdays) and lived to tell the tale. More than that, some of those sitters-in have come on in leaps and bounds. All students, any instrument, are encouraged to turn up (8:00pm) and give it a go.
Bearpark is a Sage Gateshead student quartet developing apace. Pianist (and organist) Bearpark, that’s Tom Bearpark, together with Thomas Dixon (that’s MC Tom Dixon) reeds, bassist Stephen Wall and drummer Adam Watson are leading the way at the regular BABMUS session at the Jazz Café. Now taking on Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter and the challenge of modal jazz, this quartet is not too far away from taking to the road, gigging as a working unit. If they’ve got anything like a full pad (ie two forty five minutes’ worth of material) these guys should be knocking on the Facebook doors of local promoters (Darlington, Durham, Hexham and Newcastle for starters).

To conclude an enjoyable evening the BABMUS Big Band assembled on stage for a good old blow out. Dr Edis, done with laptop duties, grabbed his alto sax to take his place in the line-up. Edis’ old Splinter Group chart For Bill got an airing in between some swinging, hard blowing ensemble work. Check out the next BABMUS session, but before then, make a point of getting along to the Caff on Tuesday (May 16) for the next installment of the always interesting jam session. Downbeat at eight, seats at a premium, it’s the greatest free show in town.
Russell.         

4 comments :

Emma Fisk (on F/b) said...

Go Lucy Playle!

Lucy Playle (on f/b) said...

Ooh thanks Emma I didn't even know XD yayayaya thank you. ����������������������

Emma Fisk (on F/b) said...

Hope it went well and you enjoyed it!�� x

Lucy Playle (on f/b) said...

��������Yes it went well thank you ����������

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