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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

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, September 20, 2017

The Jazz Café All Stars - September 19

(Review/photos by Russell)
An acquaintance suggested it would be difficult, if not impossible, to convey just how good this one was. Newcastle’s Jazz Café has long since established itself as host to the premier jam session on Tyneside. A good session is all but guaranteed, attracting some of the finest musicians on the local scene and from further afield. The place was busy well before the eight o’clock start with more than a few big hitters among the early arrivals – this one had all the makings of a particularly good night.
Paul Edis led the session working with Paul Grainger and Russ Morgan. My Romance opened the set, followed by Michel Legrand’s Watch What Happens. What happened next prompted your front row reviewer to scribble GO HOME!!! Nothing could follow Edis’ show-stopping version of  Bye Bye Blackbird featuring blinding piano playing with bassist Grainger and drummer Morgan right up there in the stratosphere. It was early, the place was full, the cheering had to be heard to be believed.
The sitters-in were many. In approximate order of appearance (all of them rose to the occasion, not a duff note all night), the two Matthews did just grand – drummer Matthew Fairhurst doesn’t say too much, in fact, he doesn’t say anything, letting his musicianship do the talking and Matthew Downey has really found his feet at the Jazz Café’s jam sessions. On this session guitarist Downey opened up, encouraged by Edis to extend his solo contribution on Tenor Madness. It’s a safe bet that at the next jam session (Tuesday 3 October) ‘Early Bird’ Downey will produce yet more good stuff.    

Graham Hardy was in the house – oh, yes! Hardy got happy on Get Happy. He didn’t hang around, business elsewhere, apparently, so, after a couple of numbers he was gone. Through the revolving door went Hardy in came Giles Strong to play Beautiful Love and There Will Never Be Another You and just like trumpet ace Hardy, guitar maestro Strong didn’t hang around. Jam session? You’d be happy to pay good money to hear this calibre of musician!

Sage Gateshead music students past and present joined the party with Jamie Mackay taking loan of Downey’s Gibson. John Garner, up from London, pricked ears on All Blues. Violinist Garner has an impressive pedigree; Royal College of Music graduate, protégé of David Oistrakh, performance credits include classical concert performances at prestigious venues across Europe, and jazz gigs with the likes of Chris Potter and Kate Williams. And here he was playing in the Jazz Café! Jimmy Jefford, studying at Newcastle University, made an impressive jam session debut on tenor.    

Graduate John Bradford took a spell behind the kit. Another find! Birthday girl Katy Trigger played a couple of numbers, giving Paul Grainger the chance to powder his nose, then there was John Pope for one, perhaps two, tunes. Two alto players stood either side of David Gray playing his usual all-action trombone. The altoists – Jordan Alfonso and Paul Gowland – traded heavyweight solos, first on On Green Dolphin Street then again on Stella by Starlight with Dr Edis knocking out yet another  stupendous solo with all sorts going on – contrapuntal Bach and other muso doings.    

Late on, having arrived from a private function gig, Strictly Smokin’ Michael Lamb had a blow, tenor man Jamie Toms likewise, and gone eleven James Harrison was just warming up with mates Anth Ord and Tom Chapman. They could have played all night but…’til the next time – October 3rd.                              
Russell             

Paul Edis (piano), Paul Grainger (double bass) & Russ Morgan (drums) + Graham Hardy (trumpet), Matthew Fairhurst (drums), Matthew Downey (guitar), Giles Strong (guitar), John Bradford (drums), Jamie Mackay (guitar), Jordan Alfonso (alto saxophone), David Gray (trombone), Paul Gowland (alto saxophone), John Garner (violin), Katy Trigger (double bass), Alan Law (piano), John Pope (double bass), James Harrison (piano), Anth Ord (double bass), Tom Chapman (drums), Michael Lamb (trumpet), Jamie Toms (tenor saxophone), Jimmy Jefford (tenor saxophone)

1 comment :

Jude Murphy (on F/b) said...

John played incredibly brilliant violin at Take it to the Bridge last night too. What a great surprise!

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