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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, September 02, 2017

Chris Sharkey Trio/Paul Edis Jazz Workshop @ Ushaw Jazz Festival 2017 - August 27

Chris Sharkey (guitar), Mick Barden (double bass) & Luke Reddin-Williams (drums) + Paul Edis
(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Brian Ebbatson)
Earlier this year Chris Sharkey enjoyed an extended residency at Newcastle’s Jazz Café during which he explored classic material recorded in the ’50s and ’60s focusing on the in-the-moment creative impulse. The Gateshead born guitarist decided to continue with the project and concert performances elsewhere were mooted. An early Sunday afternoon set in the Francis Thompson Room at the Ushaw Jazz Festival attracted a ‘Sunday roast and broadsheet newspaper’ crowd.  
The trio – Sharkey, Mick Barden, double bass, and Luke Reddin-Williams, drums – opened with Stella by Starlight. Expansive improvisation concealed the familiar melody (from some) as Chris Sharkey developed ideas; first this way, then that, bass and drums with him all the way. The set observed convention; retain the melody throughout the extended solo, bass solo, and a round of fours. All Blues, then A Night in Tunisia with Reddin-Williams’ furious drumming taking it out. And that was set one. Three tunes, forty-five minutes. Miles and Trane did it, so too Chris Sharkey.
Second set, All the Things You Are, all fifteen minutes of it, at a lick. Terrific! Chris Sharkey asked festival director Paul Edis if he would like to join the trio. Sharkey: Paul, do you want to start this one off for us? Solos all round on Footprints. Terrific! Half an hour in, time for one final number. A heavily disguised My Funny Valentine. Once again, terrific! 
Photos.
Jazz Workshop with Paul Edis @ Ushaw Jazz Festival 2017 - August 27
Following his spot with the Chris Sharkey Trio, Paul Edis conducted an informal workshop sitting at the piano in the Francis Thompson Room. The participants included a young flautist, a vocalist and a lapsed alto player who fancied having a blow after x number of years. Dr Edis’ students explored the rudiments, singing in key, finding middle C on the keyboard. Elementary standard, perhaps, the  important thing is all students took something from the workshop and left with renewed enthusiasm for jazz and a determination to put in those 10,000 hours of practice.             
Russell

1 comment :

Steve T said...

By Sunday lunchtime it was really down to the diehards to turn up for Chris Sharkey. A shame, for me this was the second best gig of a festival where the guitarists had it, but I would say that wouldn't I. Short of a disaster the previous afternoon, there was really only second place up for grabs.
The two sets were also very different from each other: a trio rather than Tulip’s quartet including piano, acoustic bass instead of pedalled-up bass guitar, and Sharkey, a southpaw, getting more sounds than he should be able to from a Strat against Tulip’s Gibson with a growing range of effects pedals.
A shame the busy, boozy couple of days caught up with Tulip and he couldn't get his lazy a$$ out of bed so had to kick himself for missing a masterclass in cutting edge jazz guitar. Two sets of just three pieces each, including All Blues and Night in Tunisia, with contrast coming from Lord Paul guesting on Shorter’s Footprints, seeming to attempt to perform with every group across the weekend. But it's Jazz so it wasn't so much the 'tunes' as what they did with them. Brilliant.

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