Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

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