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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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 .......

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