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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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

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. SOLD OUT!
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.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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

Friday, October 13, 2017

Binker & Moses @ GCT Jazz Club - October 12

Binker Golding (tenor saxophone) & Moses Boyd (drums)
(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew).
(More photos)
They strolled out, unannounced, to a muted, but not indifferent, reception. Gosforth Jazz Club’s biggest audience yet, comprising graduates and undergraduates from Durham University, Sage Gateshead and Newcastle University and many others there to hear the current hot pick wasn’t
to be disappointed. Binker and Moses were in town and, for now, they can do no wrong.
Afterwards, walking to the Metro station, a young piano player of Jazz Café jam session renown remarked that tenor saxophonist Binker Golding has an amazing tone. Absolutely right! Golding can play, no question about it – as a member of Zara McFarlane’s band at Sage Gateshead the Tomorrow’s Warriors’ alumnus made a big impression. McFarlane’s drummer on that occasion? One Moses Boyd. The Londoners can play, big time! This stripped back tenor saxophone/drums set held the attention throughout. The duo have recorded two all analogue, all valve, albums cut on vintage lathes. This Gosforth gig held true to their ‘first take, no edit’ approach.
Binker stood side-on, looking directly across the stage at Moses ensconced behind his kit. Tenor sax and drums, full on, uncompromising yet accessible. Tracks from debut album Dem Ones (the vinyl is frequently on your reviewer’s deck) and Journey to the Mountain of Forever featured in the hour-long set. Binker’s tenor ratcheted up the tension, Moses’ immense technique propelling them  to ever-greater heights, one inspiring the other. Their musicality shone through, skillfully avoiding meandering, soul-less improv workouts. A calypso featuring Binker’s light as a feather tenor would have had the great Sonny Rollins dancing on the spot. Moses’ performance from beginning to end was a masterclass; groove, drum ‘n’ bass, a kicking bass drum recalling Elvin Jones and a hi-hat feature right out of the Max Roach book of percussion!

Archipelago: Faye MacCalman (tenor saxophone & clarinet), John Pope (bass) & Christian Alderson (drums)

Earlier, Tyneside trio Archipelago played a support set featuring material from their shiny, new CD Weightless. Describing themselves as ‘alt-rock-jazz’ the trio played numbers familiar from hearing them live and this GCT set went down well with a constantly growing crowd. Eye contact between the three musicians signalled agreed changes; Faye MaCalman’s tenor, never braying, steered a course which encouraged bassist John Pope and drummer Christian Alderson to up the ante; the ‘rhythm section’ revelling in being let of the leash, JP jumping on pedals, switching direction at will with Alderson all over it. Red Giant opened the set with the amiable MacCalman for the most part playing tenor. More Bamboo, Less Pandas rocked out and it was the eponymous Weightless with MacCalman opening on clarinet which offered a different perspective on Archipelago’s developing sound world.                                    Russell

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