Total Pageviews

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

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Preview: XPQ for Blaydon

(By Russell)
It’s early autumn, the nights are beginning to draw in, this means our annual tenor saxophone treat is almost upon us. Year in year out, mid-October, Darlington’s Opus 4 Jazz Club and Blaydon Jazz Club present two of the best jazz gigs anywhere in the country. A capacity audience is the norm, it pays to arrive early to secure a seat, then sit back and enjoy two sets of swinging, mainstream jazz the likes of which one can only dream about.


Yes, it’s the return of Vasilis Xenopoulos! Described by Blaydon Jazz Club’s promoter Roly Veitch as a ‘mercurial’ tenor player, Vasi X, as he is known in some quarters, is indeed a supremely gifted musician. The northeast connection comes about thanks to his longstanding friendship with pianist Paul Edis. They met in London, gigged, and have maintained an enduring musical partnership. The set list comprises the Great American Songbook sprinkled with one or two original compositions. A top class rhythm section makes all the difference on a gig like this and without question, these northeast dates are five-star affairs thanks to the calibre of musician available to Vasilis and Paul. Opus 4 Jazz Club at the Traveller’s Rest in Cockerton, Darlington, will feature Andy Champion and Russ Morgan. Andy is, for some, the finest bass player in the country, and drummer Russ is considered, rightly, as a ‘first call’ musician for prestigious gigs such as these. The Blaydon Jazz Club date will feature Bishop Auckland’s Mick Shoulder on bass working alongside Russ Morgan. Mick is one of the most accomplished musicians on the scene and Vasi has secured his services for this Blaydon gig and a second date north of the border in Eyemouth.

Of course, the piano player at Darlington and Blaydon will be Paul Edis. Based on Tyneside, Edis, if he so chose, could work in London or New York. When Vasi makes the trip ‘up north’ he must think Christmas has come early! You’re thinking: What’s the ‘XPQ’ all about. Well, not only will we get to hear Xenopoulos (Vasilis), but, believe it or not, Price (Nigel)! Guitarist Nigel Price is co-leader with Vasi of their quintet, hence XPQ. Nigel is an amazing guitarist. Gigging relentlessly, his recent tour of Britain comprised a mere fifty-six dates!!! Vasi and Nigel have worked together for ten years yet these October gigs will be the first time they have ventured north with their quintet. The saxophone-guitar format has an illustrious history in jazz and their concerts will look at some of the classic duo partnerships including Jim Hall-Sonny Rollins, Wes Montgomery-Johnny Griffin, Charlie Byrd-Stan Getz, and Kenny Burrell-Stanley Turrentine.

As an hors-d'oeuvre Xenopolous will play a duo gig with Paul Edis at the Lit and Phil Library at one o’clock on Friday 20 October. Pay on the door, £5.00 admission. It is advisable to arrive early as it will almost certainly be a sell-out. No advance sales, pay on the day, first come, first served. Then in the evening at the Traveller’s Rest it’s the quintet (XPQ). Doors at eight, first set at eight thirty, it too will be very busy. £10.00 on the door. The Blaydon Jazz Club date – Sunday 22 October – will similarly be busy. First set at 8:00pm, ten pounds on the door. Parking is available adjacent to the Black Bull on Bridge Street, and an excellent, reliable last bus departs Blaydon at 22:55, arriving at Clayton Street West, Newcastle at 23:08 leaving plenty of time to catch a Metro or last bus home.
Hopefully, XPQ will have their CD Sidekicks with them. Buy one, Christmas has come early.    

Russell

No comments :

Blog Archive