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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

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00-2:00pm. £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. SOLD OUT!
Fri 14: Fiona Finden’s Jazz Express @ Flash House Brewing Co., North Shields. 8:00pm.
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.

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

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

Jazz Café Jam Session - July 4











(Review by Lance).
Harrison, Grainger and Walker kicked things off with Sister Sadie and I said, "Brother, it can't get any better than this!"
Maybe it did, maybe it didn't, whatever, the quality remained, but the quantity multiplied. After a Wonderful version of For Once in my Life the jammers began to emerge. First up was a fiddling friend from my music shop past life - Andy Lawrenson who felt his way around Nature Boy before launching into a stunning After You've Gone. Lawrenson and Harrison seemed to be on the same wavelength and the sparks flew.
Ben Helm joined the group for All of Me playing a nice chordal solo that brought the likes of Carl Cress and Dick McDonough to mind. The number culminated with a series of fours that became twos between Walker and Harrison.
Arthur Higgins was featured on Tenor Madness before giving way to Belinda Voshtina who invited us to Bésame Mucho then cooled us off with Água de Beber - Matthew Fairhurst drummed sympathetically continuing the tradition of having at least one Matthew behind the kit at these Tuesday [alternate] jams.
Paul Gowland, armed with Conn underslung alto, entered the fray and Dave McKeague took control of the drums. No relief bassists in tonight so Grainger soldiered on bravely. Here's That Rainy Day, a reference to the weather, the chosen test piece and all came through without the need of an umbrella.
More vocals, this time from Paul Skerritt. Skerritt and Harrison, who are regular musical compadres, were joined by 'Blue Hat' for Cheek to Cheek and Georgia on my Mind.
Caravan, I think, brought us up to the break - I think (It may have been earlier or later!)
One of the nice things about jam sessions is the surprises they throw up. Tonight was no exception when a young woman making her debut also made an impression with Beyond the Sea and At Last.
I hope she returns as it will be interesting to note her progress. The 'woman' in question was one Emily Ramsdale who's only 15 and this was her first ever public performance - a star in the making!
Julija Jaicenaite is fast becoming a regular at the Caff and she didn't disappoint with Misty and There Will Never be Another You. Arthur Higgins put his tenor down and took over on piano whilst Harrison moved in on drums! I'm beginning to think James plays more instruments than Paul Edis!
Walker returned for Wave.



Skerritt reaffirmed the Ellington maxim that It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing, the three saxes impressed on Sunny before the finale which was Let the Good Times Roll with a growly tenor intro from Higgins and a seven shades of .... drum solo from Walker to bring the evening to a satisfactory close.
This had been a great old style jam session with most of the players staying on board for the duration.
Lance.
 James Harrison (piano/drums); Paul Grainger (bass); Rob Walker (drums) + Andy Lawrenson (violin); Ben Helm (guitar); Matthew Fairhurst (drums); Arthur Higgins (tenor/piano); Belinda Voshtina (vocal); Johnny 'Blue Hat' Davis (tenor); Emily Runsdale (vocal); Dave McKeague (drums); Paul Gowland (alto); Julija Jaicenaite (vocal); Paul Skerritt (vocal).
Some nice F/b comments that modesty forbids me to print.

1 comment :

Lance said...

Apologies for getting Emily's surname wrong [now corrected] us Geordies can't always understand the Teesside dialect. However, in the future I don't think we'll ever get her name wrong again!

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