Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 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

18083 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1047 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 14), 61.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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, July 05, 2017

Jamie Brownfield Quartet @ Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival - July 2

Jamie Brownfield; (trumpet); Tom Kincaid (piano); Ken Marley (double bass); Jack Cotterill (drums).
(Review by Annie O’Donnell)
Night Train opens set with a snazzy piano/bass intro.  They mean business / Jamie looks like a slick detective, in fact they all look like detectives...on a film set...
Literally, a Walking Bass Line as Ken walks with it to get comfy... 
he is strong and steady.
slaps out a happy bass melody in his solo
Ken's style reminds me of a Detective Sergeant I worked with. 
Jaggy jumpy piano.
Where Or When is played. It’s from film When Harry Met Sally
Ken plays a slow smooch smooth sexy bass line
Tender slow piano interweaving with Jamie's trumpet.
Ken's Bass is singing like a lover and he is dancing with it
I am reminded of the legend
As he slides his hand up and down the frets so lovingly.
His solo is a song, not a chord progression on a fast tight race 
It is a joy to hear and to see...there are not many bass players
who know how to do this with a double bass
and this is why he reminds me of Ron Mathewson..
Ken Loves His Bass
and his bass loves him back.

Softly As In a Morning Sunrise 
Satchmo comes to mind..
Jamie  has the most wonderful breath control
so smooth ...
an unexpected fan crawls along the grass to get closer
an orange and brown butterfly who suddenly
disappears in the afternoon sunshine...
Jack is a tight sensitive drummer with
an ear to hear when to augment and diminish
his sound...he is not intrusive but 
you know he is there..'

Do Nothing ‘til You Hear From Me is perfect.

Jamie's rendition, Chet Baker style, of My Funny Valentine
Big Bass BAP BAP Heart sound
Tinkling Piano
so beautiful
touched me so much
I wrote a lyric for a new song
I'm collaborating on
so what more praise can I give?*
Annie O' Donnell  
*Jamie and his fellow musicians opened
my heart to pour out my emotion
when the song is finished 
I will send it to Bebop


1 comment :

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

A great review - and I'm thrilled that we have Jamie playing for us at the Mike Durham's Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party in October!

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