Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

17985(and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 306 of them this year alone and, so far, 62 this month (April 26).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: International Jazz Day @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £16.00.; £14.00. adv.. Feat. Guido Spannocchi, John Pope & Steve Hanley + Take it to the Bridge participants + Open Mic Night participants.

MAY 2025

Thu 01: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Member’s Contribution.
Thu 01: Alabaster de Plume @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 01: Living in Shadows + OUTRI @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: The Shayo Experiment @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Shayo Oshodi & Liam Oliver.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ STACK, Seaburn. 4:30-6:15pm. Free.
Fri 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:00pm. £7.50. A ‘Nauta’s House’ gig featuring Nauta & guests Shayo Oshodi & David Gray.
Fri 02: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 02: Dom Pipkin @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Solo piano.
Fri 02: Abbie Finn Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00. + bf.

Sat 03: Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Summer Samba Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 03: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Postmodern Jukebox @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Sat 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £3.00. + bf.
Sat 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:30pm. Free.

Sun 04: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 04: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 04: Ben Crosland Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: 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

Wednesday, June 07, 2017

Notes from day three of Durham City Jazz Festival - June 3.

(Review by Steve T/Photos courtesy of Carlo Viglianisi)
Day three and the years, booze and late nights have caught up, so apologies to Mark and Joel (pictured left), Barry and the Boys and Nebulas, all of whom I heard good things about from people with longer legs and greater stamina.
The Steve Glendinning Quartet gave a legendary performance at the Empty Shop a couple of years back and I know Steve will forgive me for saying the audience were mesmerised by the creative virtuosity of vibraphonist Chris Jelly. They both feature in fine funk band King Bee but the quartet gives them greater opportunity to show what they've got and, my goodness, what a lot they've got. Solid bass and drums too who are happy to stay back.
Some Pat Metheny, some Chick Corea, a fine original in a later Santana vein, Steve taking several opportunities to rock it up, this was a strong contender for set of the festival, and everyone I spoke to agreed.
Some people stuck around for the Sue Ferris Quartet, some crossed the bridge to the Empty Shop for Triptych, some of those returned to see both and others, myself included, watched a bit of Sue before heading over to catch a bit of Triptych.
Sue is always wonderful, a soulful player and a genuinely lovely person who always plays a tasteful set of lesser known gems from the greats including lesser known greats. She also had a cracking band of Dean Stockdale, Paul Grainger and boy wonder Matthew Mackellar depping on drums.
Triptych (pictured left) were deeper and funkier than I'd expected, with a definite Fender Rhodes sound which took me by surprise and means Paul Edis just about covers the entire spectrum across the various bands he fronts or features in. Serious music but in a different way to Sue, with mostly original compositions aimed at the head.
At the end he paid a sincere and heartfelt tribute to Carlo for his role in the festival, acknowledging that, as a Chester-le-Street lad, he would have loved this growing up. I had similar thoughts, having grown up in Durham City, odd unknowing flirtations notwithstanding, my introduction to Jazz (funk) was at mid-week nights at the old Coach and Eight, a triple jump from the Empty Shop. A seventeen year old me wouldn't have believed it.
Shock of the festival for me came from the Danny Allan Band. Great sax player who was happy to leave the stage to let the rest of this excellent band run and run. Not just a saxophone quartet, it was like alternating with a piano trio, like two bands for the price of one, sometimes funky, sometimes straight.
The closing party was at Jam Jah, an institution in Durham for a number of years, which began with another jam session and I regret to inform you, number one son was dominant again. A local professional drummer from a pop/rock covers band had played the final number at the Friday jam session which turned out to be Spain which he'd never heard, so good effort. Tonight they put together a funk workout to play to his strengths, FDT ramping it up to a funky blues, giving him carte blanch to just play and play without anyone thinking he should take the plectrum out of his hand.
The regular Jam Jah DJ brought the festival to a close with some funk, soul, fusion, disco, club classics, hip hop, rare groove - these terms become redundant - including Roy Ayers, Lamont Dozier, Idris Muhammed, Thundercat and Fela Kuti; and some reggae too.
First Class Honours with stars to Heather, Nick, Carlo and Ali and everybody who worked tirelessly to put this together, and I'm already looking forward to part two. 
Steve T

No comments :

Blog Archive