Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.
Tue 18: Phil Bancroft’s Beautiful Storm @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20 & £11.00.. A JNE-Gem Arts co-promotion.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

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, June 30, 2017

Carleen Anderson @ Sage Gateshead - June 29











Carleen Anderson (vocals, vocal harmoniser & piano), Orphy Robinson (vibes & cajón), Emma Smith (violin), Renell Shaw (bass) & Crispin Robinson (percussion).
(Review by Russell)
The Young Disciple is taking her story to the people. Cage Street Memorial - The Pilgrimage, is Carleen Anderson’s reflections on life and heritage. American born, British resident, Anderson, daughter of Vicki Anderson, has come a long way since her days with Gilles Peterson’s Talkin’ Loud record label. Anderson greeted Sage Gateshead: Good evening congregation!
This Sage Gateshead performance presented heavyweight material in an unaffected, accessible manner, the audience drawn to the focal point - Anderson’s voice. Seated at an upright piano, it became clear that Anderson’s Cage Street Memorial narrative was a personal project; a journey through childhood years, respect for paternal grandparents, documenting civil rights, exile. Jazz, gospel, soul, Anderson sang with passion, alternating between vocal mic and vocal harmoniser, the latter generating ten or more Andersons in vocal harmony. Ms Anderson wasted little time in introducing the band; ‘master of the vibes’ Orphy Robinson, ‘bass virtuoso’ Renell Shaw (a name new to Bebop Spoken Here), in-demand percussionist Crispin Robinson, and Emma Smith. The fact that violinist Smith (Elysian Quartet, Basquiat Strings) depped with little more than two hours’ notice is quite remarkable. Anderson informed the audience that she met Smith for the first time backstage at Sage Gateshead.

Upwards From the Ground, All That Glitters (referencing Charlie Parker and Rachmaninoff), five-string electric bassist Shaw in an oh-so-subtle groove from beginning to end, Ms Anderson didn’t say much, the music spoke for her. Cage Street Memorial passionate, Anderson wringing a vocal on and off mic. Orphy Robinson’s balanced contribution ceded to Anderson’s developing narrative, Sage Two’s audience rapt. Chapter Then - Chapter Next a highlight, the blues-soul voice central, vibes and violin working either side, Shaw and Robinson probing, the stage belonged to Carleen Anderson.

Sage Two’s intimate, tiered design came into its own at this small scale concert. A performance of warmth and intimacy, the subject matter of great import. Anderson thanked her congregation.             Russell. 

1 comment :

Patti D (on F/b) said...

Oh, it was a great concert. Her voice is amazing - deep and soulful, then soaring to the heights, like Minnie Ripperton. And the band were so tightly funky - rock solid. Splendidly atmospheric! Very different to the Brand New Heavies .......

Blog Archive