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

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.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

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.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

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, July 22, 2017

Ruth Lambert Quartet @ The Lit & Phil - July 21

Ruth Lambert (vocals), Dean Stockdale (piano), Michael Dunlop (double bass) & Russ Morgan (drums)
(Review by Russell/Photo © Brian Ebbatson)
I’ve Got the World on a String, and so she had. This packed house at the Lit and Phil rolled up to hear the GAS book interpreted by one of its great interpreters. Ruth Lambert arrived in good time, time enough to sit at the piano to play and sing for her own amusement. The band arrived in due course; first Guildhall student bassist Michael Dunlop. A first meeting between the pair, Dunlop a dep recommendation by Lambert’s peers. Drummer Russ Morgan parked outside to off load then drove off to find a parking meter. Pianist Dean Stockdale strolled in. The quartet got into a huddle to agree on a programme as the audience took its many seats in the Loftus Room.
This monthly Friday lunchtime concert promotion at the Lit and Phil on Westgate Road, Newcastle is a guarantee of quality; Ms Lambert doesn’t do anything other. But Beautiful, ‘S Wonderful, Ruth Lambert’s fabulous swinging style challenges the ‘can’t dance, won’t dance’ types to straighten up and dance, right, or at least shuffle in their seats. Former Jambone bassist Michael Dunlop gained an insight into Lambert’s two hundred plus song book: first lesson, it’s a tad disorganised. Lambert jokingly reassured Dunlop that he’d find the tune in the last of several books scattered around. The wonder of jazz – a first meeting, getting to grips with the material as you go (Dunlop a study in jazz concentration!), our bassist did just fine. Beautiful Love, Jobim’s Corcovado with Lambert offering a solo to Dunlop…was our bassist thinking/cursing : thanks a lot, Ruth! All good stuff.                   

Bonnie Raitt’s Love Me Like a Man should be considered as an addendum to Lambert’s GAS book; a raucous, bluesy workout, on this occasion featuring a bluesy Dean Stockdale at the piano. A One Note Samba with all the words in the right order (fantastic vocals!), followed by a respectful reading of You Don’t Know What Love Is, this was Lambert on top form. It was just on two, time to go out in up tempo fashion with How High the Moon and its in-the-moment ragged ending. Good, that’s jazz!     
There isn’t a Lunchtime Jazz Concert at the Lit and Phil promotion in August, however, September promises to be extra special with an appearance by Zoe Rahman. The concert on September 29th, starting at 1:15pm is a co-promotion by Jazz North East’s ‘Women Make Music’ series, Jazz at the Lit and Phil, Gem Arts and the Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music. Tickets - £10.00. and £8.00.- are on sale now (and already selling fast!). To secure your ticket telephone the Lit and Phil – 0191 232 0192.
Russell               

No comments :

Blog Archive