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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

17985(and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 306 of them this year alone and, so far, 62 this month (April 26).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: International Jazz Day @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £16.00.; £14.00. adv.. Feat. Guido Spannocchi, John Pope & Steve Hanley + Take it to the Bridge participants + Open Mic Night participants.

MAY 2025

Thu 01: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Member’s Contribution.
Thu 01: Alabaster de Plume @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 01: Living in Shadows + OUTRI @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: The Shayo Experiment @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Shayo Oshodi & Liam Oliver.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ STACK, Seaburn. 4:30-6:15pm. Free.
Fri 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:00pm. £7.50. A ‘Nauta’s House’ gig featuring Nauta & guests Shayo Oshodi & David Gray.
Fri 02: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 02: Dom Pipkin @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Solo piano.
Fri 02: Abbie Finn Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00. + bf.

Sat 03: Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Summer Samba Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 03: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Postmodern Jukebox @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Sat 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £3.00. + bf.
Sat 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:30pm. Free.

Sun 04: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 04: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 04: Ben Crosland Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. 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

Saturday, October 21, 2017

XPQ @ Opus 4, Darlington - October 20

Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor saxophone), Nigel Price (guitar), Paul Edis (piano), Paul Susans (double bass) & Russ Morgan (drums)
(Review by Russell)
A Friday night in mid-October sees all and sundry heading to the Traveller’s Rest in Cockerton. What’s the occasion? The annual visit of Vasilis Xenopoulos, that’s what! As they queued down the stairs, drinks in hand, a voice said: It’s a tenner tonight. Another replied: I’d pay thirty quid tonight. Such is Vasilis Xenopoulos’ reputation that an increase in the usual admission price didn’t deter the faithful.
An added attraction at this Darlington Opus 4 Jazz Club gig took the form of the brilliant guitarist Mr Nigel Price. Add in the best piano trio around – Messrs Paul Edis, Paul Susans and Russ Morgan – and it had all the makings of a memorable occasion. XPQ are Vasilis Xenopoulos, Nigel Price and, on this gig, the aforementioned A-list rhythm section.
On June 21st Xenopoulos and Price went into the studio to record material associated with several of the great saxophone/guitar partnerships in jazz history. The album Sidekicks (review to follow) is the result of their endeavours, and here at Opus 4 not only was the physical product (CD) available to buy hot off the press, the evening’s two sets featured cuts from it! 
 The London-based headliners had some of the jazz greats listening in on the gig (see photo) as the quintet opened with Vincent Youmans’ Without a Song (Sonny Rollins-Jim Hall, 1962). Nigel Price (NP) took the first solo. Gargantuan it was, simple as. Vasilis Xenopoulos (VX) replied, big style! This 52nd Street gig (Opus 4/52nd Street – same thing!) couldn’t have got off to a better start. Cheering fans, of a certain age, in the upstairs room of a suburban Darlington pub, hard to believe, but true. And this established the pattern for the evening.

The Right Time (Geoff Simkins-Dave Cliff, comp. Dave Cliff) heard VX in swinging, bluesy mode. A strange thing happened…more cheering! O Pato (Stan Getz-Charlie Byrd), an Edis solo feature on  When Joanna Loved Me (Paul Desmond-Jim Hall) reminded all present that this was an A-list five-piece outfit…cue cheering. A searing tempo on Ready and Able (Ronnie Cuber-George Benson) is something else to listen to, what must it be like to play it? The cookin’ rhythm section – Edis, Paul Susans and Russ Morgan – more than matched VX and NP. More cheering.

The interval – phew! A refill (Theakston’s Black Bull – more on this later). The unanimous view was it had been an unbelievable first set. Seasoned musicians in the audience were fulsome in praising XPQ.

John Coltrane-Kenny Burrell to resume. Lyresto started where we left off with more cheering as the A-list rhythm section took a few bars as an imperious piano trio. Uh Huh fuelled greater excitement as VX booted, honked and swung his way through the Grant Green-Hank Mobley showstopper. NP had his say with shuffle-rhythm accompaniment before ceding to a Paul Edis piano solo which VX offered enthusiastic encouragement urging his friend from their days working together in London to play on. Yep, more hollering!

Nigel Price revealed that at one time Wes Montgomery was his mobile ringtone! Full House tore it up with solos all round. From Johnny Griffin-Wes Montgomery to more homegrown jazz talent with a hear-felt tribute to a now well again Jim Mullen. Price said: This goes out to Jim Mullen, adding and he’s back with a vengeance! From one guitarist to another, Price led XPQ on Mal Waldron’s Soul Eyes (Dick Morrissey-Jim Mullen). Shirley Scott’s Ladyfingers trained the spotlight on Stanley Turrentine-Kenny Burrell. Solos all round, Paul Susans excelling. It was almost time to go. Vasilis Xenopoulos suggested one for the road. Sonny Rollins’ If Ever I Would Leave You from What’s New? is where we came in – Sonny Rollins-Jim Hall. Yet more astounding solos (VX briefly quoting St Thomas) with the exceptional Russ Morgan, drums, taking it home.

XPQ at Opus 4 Jazz Club is currently top of your reviewer’s Gig of the Year list. And you’re thinking Damn! I missed it! Well, my earlier mention of Theakston’s Black Bull serves as a reminder. Tomorrow night (Sunday 22) they’re going to do it all over again at the Black Bull on Bridge Street in Blaydon. No excuses, all roads (Sat Navs) lead to NE21 4JJ. Eight o’clock start, a tenner on the door. Arrive early to claim a seat, it’s going to be busy. Gig of the Year MKII.                              
Russell

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