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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

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: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
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: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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

CD Review: Joy Ellis - Life on Land.

Joy Ellis (voice/piano/rhodes/compositions); Rob Luft (guitar); Henrik Jensen (bass); Adam Osmianski (drums) + James Copus (flugel on tks 4 & 10); Binker Golding (tenor on tks 2 & 8).
(Review by Lance).
Ellis, a London based singer, makes an impressive debut with this F-IRE Presents album finding inspiration for her compositions from her native Haringey via photos, street art, architecture and London in general. The cultural diversity, the hectic tempo, the harshness, the loneliness, the neighbourhoods. I suppose we all could find similar inspiration in our own hometown but, with the possible exception of New York, nowhere in such varied abundance as in our capital city.
Russell actually previewed the album back in May when Ellis appeared at the Jazz Café. However, this is the finished product and it's the biz.
The voice is appealing, it's not a Summertime or Funny Valentine voice, although I'm sure it could and can be when the gig demands it, rather it's a storytelling voice and, though Norma Winstone, Annie Ross and Shirley Horn are fleetingly suggested, Ellis is none of these. She's her own woman.
As a pianist, her classical training comes through although she can still knock out the jazz - in this company it would be a case of 'put up or shut up!'
Rob Luft continues to make an impact on the guitar scene with solos that add a shaft of light to the sometimes sombre surrounds. Jensen and Osmianski give the essential support as do the Special Guests!
Special indeed! I'd intended to hold fire on this release for a couple of days but, coming on the back of last night's gig by Binker and Moses at Gosforth, I felt it was right to draw attention to Binker's presence on a couple of tracks.
The Jazzman sees Binker living the title role with his extended solo whilst, on Ellington Said, he blows another long one that many tenor players would have had to live to be a hundred to match.
Copus adds his distinctive flugel sound to a couple of tracks - I wished he'd been on more.
Where can I hear this lady?
Well, it just so happens that on Sunday, October 29 Joy Ellis is at the Empty Shop in Durham, on Tuesday, November 14, Joy is at The Fox in Hexham! Then, on Saturday, November 18, she's at The Old Fire Station in Carlisle!
As for the actual CD Launch, that takes place on November 5 (easy date to remember) at Pizza Express down in Soho.
Nice one.
Lance.
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