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

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, May 15, 2017

The Jazztones @ The Quakerhouse, Darlington - May14














Shaune Eland (trumpet), Alan Thompson (tenor saxophone), Steve McGarvie (keyboards & soprano saxophone), Alan Smith (bass) & Stephen Fletcher (drums) + Beth Roberts (alto saxophone) & Ted Pearce (keyboards)
(Review by Russell)
Blues for Duane, One Mint Julep, Bernie’s Tune, three gems for starters. The Jazztones returned to play another set at the Quakerhouse, the de facto HQ of the long-running Darlington Jazz Club. The Mechanics’ Yard pub hosts regular gigs – blues, rock, and, twice a month, jazz. A six o’clock start attracts listeners and performers across the age spectrum – teenagers to octogenarians. An illustration of this early evening gig policy presented an established small group (the Jazztones) a been-there-done-that musician invited to sit in (pianist Mr Ted Pearce), and star of the future, Ms Beth Roberts playing alto saxophone.

Black Orpheus and Comin’ Home Baby rounded off a first set of relaxed jazz. Trumpeter Shaune Eland and Alan Thompson (tenor saxophone) exchanged leisurely solos supported by pianist and occasional soprano saxophonist Steve McGarvie, depping bassist Alan Smith, and award winning drummer Stephen Fletcher. The set highlight (hopefully the guys in the band won’t take offence!) featured Beth Roberts on Tadd Dameron’s Lady Bird. Standing her ground between the frontline duo of Eland and Thompson, the young altoist continues to find something in the tune, finding her way around it with increasing confidence. Roberts departed to resume door duties and organise the all important raffle!

The Jazztones’ second set spanned the generations – the quintet firing on Lee Morgan’s Tom Cat, veteran Pearce joining the band on Out of Nowhere (McGarvie on soprano), and the return of Beth Roberts to play Blue Bossa (Eland content to leave the stage to the young altoist). Darlington Jazz Club’s year round sessions present numerous regional musicians and occasional out-of-towners. A procession of emerging musicians gigged at the Quakerhouse (and other venues) including Square One guitarist Joe Williamson, Will Howard, reeds, Leeds College of Music undergraduate drummer Abbie Finn (heard recently at the Quakerhouse), and the Bakers (Amy, the Jazztones’ regular bass player and brother Alex, reeds). To close the Jazztones’ set Beth Roberts rejoined the band to play Freddie Hubbard’s Red Clay. Our altoist took a first solo, laying down a marker. Eland, Thompson and co did their best to keep up. The next Darlington Jazz Club gig is a young musicians’ jam night at the Quakerhouse on Sunday 28 May. Six o’clock start, recommended. 
Russell.

No comments :

Blog Archive