Total Pageviews

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

17755 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 76 of them this year alone and, so far, 1 this month (Feb.1).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 07: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Old Lowlight, Clifford’s Fort, North Shields NE30 1JE. 7:00pm. £15.00. + bf. www.oldlowlight.co.uk. SOLD OUT!
Fri 07: Stuart Turner Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Jazz, blues, Americana etc.
Fri 07: Dean Stockdale Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 07: Rose Room @ Wylam Institute. 8:00pm. £19.67.
Fri 07: John Rowland Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 08: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 08: Anth Purdy @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. ‘Swing Jazz Guitar’.
Sat 08: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra event. All welcome.

Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

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, August 02, 2017

Last of the summer jam @ The Jazz Café - August 1










(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy Mike Tilley [above]  & Russell [below])
They came out of the woodwork for this one. The last jam session of the summer encouraged all and sundry to turn out – musicians and audience. The Jazz Café’s popular twice monthly session was so busy that more than one aspiring participant didn’t get the nod. The house trio opened the evening’s entertainment at eight o’clock, played a couple of tunes, played a couple more and in a trice it was ten minutes to nine. Hopeful sitters-in were massing at the bar waiting to be called.
First up, veteran modernist Ian Forbes. Mr Forbes doesn’t hang around, if it looks like he’ll have to bide his time, he’s off into the night. Forbes shared Stolen Moments with Jazz Co-op guitarist Keith Barrett before giving way to Trinity-bound Abbie Finn, joined by folk fiddler Andy Lawrenson to play a few numbers including a swinging There Will Never Be Another You. Early Birder Ben Lawrence played some piano and former Early Bird guitarist, currently studying at Birmingham Conservatoire, Francis Tulip, upped the ante with some fiery bop-ish lines, as did the emerging piano talent that is Joel Brown. Matt MacKellar was in the house and duly took his turn, as did Debra Milne singing a couple including Señor Blues with Bradley Johnston having returned to the stand. ‘Showtime’ did what he always does – inject ‘oomph’ into the proceedings. Good on yer David Gray! The bar did good business, plenty of bodies in, and yet another drummer – looking not unlike a young Ginger Baker! – made his way through the throng to grab a piece of the action. Ben Fitzgerald the name, he’ll be back.

It was just about time, but not before a new face made his debut – Josh Eckert, guitar, fitted in well. Let’s hope he returns when the jam session resumes in September. Literally last but not least, from France, vocalist Sarah Linscott made a welcome contribution alongside a soprano sax cameo from Paul Gowland. Time please! See you all on Tuesday, September 5.                         
Russell.

Bradley Johnston (guitar), John Pope (double bass) & Paul Wight (drums) + Keith Barrett (guitar), Francis Tulip (guitar), Josh Eckert (guitar), Ben Lawrence (piano), Joel Brown (piano), Andy Lawrenson (violin), Paul Gowland (soprano saxophone), David Gray (trombone), Ian Forbes (drums), Abbie Finn (drums), Matthew MacKellar (drums), Ben Fitzgerald (drums), Debra Milne (vocals) & Sarah Linscott (vocals)     

1 comment :

Lance said...

Ten to nine? Bit late to start the jamming.

Blog Archive