Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

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, November 03, 2017

The Austerity Playbook @ Northern Stage - November 1

(Review by Russell)
Stage 3 at Northern Stage was, at one time, the foyer bar of the then University Theatre. Back then on this very spot on Sunday mornings, the legendary Newcastle Big Band played to full houses. On the very same spot, a then-unknown bass player, Gordon Sumner, played with the big band and an all-conquering Last Exit. Sumner, already known to all by his nickname, headed for the bright lights of London. The rest, as they say, is history. Sting was about to hit the big time.
Fast forward five minutes, in truth several decades. In this Age of Austerity, two academics working at Durham University and Newcastle University have developed a new musical. The Economic and  Social Research Council provided support and as part of Freedom City 2017 – commemorating the visit of Martin Luther King to Newcastle University – the Austerity Playbook took to the stage.
Doors opened on time. On entering the space it was as if time had stood still. Not quite déjà vu, but right there playing Have You Met Miss Jones?  was pianist Andrea Vicari and two familiar figures –  Andy Champion, double bass, and drummer Russ Morgan. Right there, where Cormac Loane and Nigel Stanger once stood, and Andy Hudson and Gerry Richardson, and Sting. The trio, wearing a natty line in bowlers, was at work, the music the soundtrack to the Austerity Playbook.

A cast of five, comic, politically incisive, at times a little too obvious in its message. What message? The Stage 3 audience didn’t need any help in appreciating the harmful effects of ‘austerity’ and the fictitious northern city of Burnside could represent just about anywhere you care to name. Andrea, Andy and Russ, bowlered throughout, went into Song for My Father. Audience seated, the sparse stage set, the Austerity Playbook’s pages turned introducing a cast of familiar characters; harassed council leader, dedicated librarian, disillusioned PCSO, affable immigrant. Andrea Vicari wrote the music and the trio played on throughout much of the action. Sheet music stretched across stands, any non-jazz fans present could well be persuaded to attend a local jazz gig. Musicianship of the highest order, the acting talents of the cast of the Austerity Playbook spoke to the converted.
The Austerity Playbook was written by Mark O’Thomas, directed by André Punk, music by Andrea Vicari. Professor Laurence Ferry, Durham University and Professor Ileana Steccoloini, Newcastle University researched material on poverty, its challenges and how to challenge it.
Russell                                      

No comments :

Blog Archive