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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

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

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Young, Gifted and Back (In Crook). The Early Bird Band @ St. Cuthbert’s Parish Centre, Crook. Friday June 9.

Paul Edis (flute, saxophone, MD); Ben Lawrence (piano); James Metcalf (trumpet); Alex Thompson (alto); Matthew Downey (guitar); Alex Shipsey (bass guitar); Matthew MacKellar (drums).
(Review by Jerry E)
Young? “Average age 15?” suggested the MD. This seemed to ruffle the feathers of band members and after much head-scratching and mental maths they came up with “about 17”. I still think that’s young to have built up so much experience and to perform jazz live with such maturity. This stems from the excellent rapport between band members and their MD, who invariably treats them like fellow professionals rather than young tyros. Age established, they launched into I’ll Remember April on which James Metcalf soloed impressively as did everyone else (if you count trading fours) apart from the guitarists whose opportunities soon came with Matthew Downey taking the lead on Nature Boy ditto Alex Shipsey’s bass on So What?
Gifted? After the tight ensemble playing and the aforementioned solos in the first four numbers (Eddie Vinson’s Four was the other) no-one can question the talent. MD, Edis, takes it as read, preparing them “in true jazz style” with “very little direction” allowing them to spread their wings which they did on “the band’s anthem”, Lady Bird. All were flying now, having really relaxed into the gig.
Blue Bossa followed and was, briefly, my favourite tune of the set with appealing harmonies from the combination of flute, alto and trumpet. I say “briefly” because it was swiftly ousted by the next-but-one tune, the set-closer Blues Walk. Yardbird Suite, the penultimate number, was mighty good as well with Alex Thompson impressive on alto (not for the first time this evening!).
Blues Walk illustrated the adaptability of the musicians, performed as it was with “a bit of a New Orleans thing going on”. There were duelling saxophones, a section where keys, guitars and drums went silent leaving just the horns centre stage and more fours with Matthew MacKellar reminding us again how much Bebop readers’ loss will be Berklee’s gain! Adaptability was seen too when the guitarists and Ben Lawrence (excellent contributions all night) slotted straight into the big band set which followed the interval.
All in all, an excellent set, well received.
Jerry.

No comments :

Blog Archive