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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

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.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £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.
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: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs 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.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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

Monday, August 21, 2017

Paul Edis Trio @ Blaydon Jazz Club - August 20

Paul Edis (piano), Andy Champion (double bass) & Russ Morgan (drums) + Francis Tulip (guitar)
(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Roly Veitch).

Hello. Is that London’s world-famous jazz club?
Yes. How can I help you?
I know it sold out weeks ago, but, do you have any returns for tonight’s concert?
You’re in luck. We’ve just had a pair of tickets returned to the box office.
Great! I’ll take them.
That’ll be £25 per ticket plus our usual exorbitant booking fee.
That’s fine, it’s worth it to hear the Paul Edis Trio!

Meanwhile, ‘up north’, Blaydon Jazz Club secured the booking of the Paul Edis Trio for a modest fee, and the Black Bull faithful turned out, willingly paying the modest admission charge, knowing they were in for a treat. The trio was in full rehearsal mode long before the audience arrived. New material was to be premiered here on Tyneside, London would have to wait.
Whiskers for starters. Swift it was. Pianist Paul Edis subsequently apologised to Andy Champion and Russ Morgan, suggesting it was ‘a bit mean’ calling it as a first number! Edis added, ‘I knew they could do it’. The ‘whiskers’ referred, by way of Ellington, to Morgan’s brushes. Masterful. The new, and new-ish material, went down well; Snakes and Ladders, compositions inspired by Tyne and Wear’s light railway Metro network - The Coast and The Long Way Round - and It Ain’t Broke, a bluesy, lazy swing-feel chart recalling Ray Bryant or Junior Mance with bassist Champion taking a superb solo (nothing new there) and a round of fours taking it out. A Night in Tunisia raced along, the commissioned For Kathleen and Lucky took it down before Edis chose to close the set with the apposite Relentless. It was. Terrific.

Blaydon’s ‘best of jazz’ policy received the thumbs up from all present. The second set couldn’t be any better, could it? You Stepped Out of a Dream, Falling In Love with Love. Brilliant piano playing, and on the latter number (Rodgers and Hammerstein), Morgan, a most musical drummer, crafted a fine solo. From time to time a guest will be invited to sit-in on a couple of numbers. Well, an Early Bird alumnus was in the house. Currently studying at Birmingham Conservatoire, guitarist Francis Tulip joined the trio to play Alone Together (Schwartz and Dietz) and Blue Monk
Tulip, standing on the floor in front of the compact stage, ran through the changes with consummate ease on the first number and on Monk’s standard the augmented trio exchanged solos for fun. Tulip certainly didn’t out stay his welcome. Bandleader Edis suggested Donna Lee. Tulip: Yeah. Great, party time! The thrill of four top-class players tearing it up, just like that! It was time to go, but not before the Paul Edis Trio closed proceedings with the bandleader’s When All is Said and Done. Top class jazz on Tyneside, just the job.  
Russell
Hello. Is that Blaydon Jazz Club?
Yes.
When are you going to book the Paul Edis Trio again?
Well, you can hear the trio working with Vasilis Xenopoulos on October 22nd.
Vas who?
Xenopoulos. He’s a London-based tenor player.
Oh. Can I book in advance?
No, just pay on the door, but do arrive early as a full house is anticipated.
Right, I’ll be there.
Blaydon Photos.

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