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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

Sunday, December 03, 2017

Jasper Høiby Masterclass @ The Music Department, Durham University - December 2

(Report by Russell)
Lunchtime, Saturday, Palace Green. The ‘Green’ was covered by the biggest marquee ever seen this side of a so-called ‘high society’ wedding ‘do’. A Christmas market, three quid admission and the place was buzzing. The adjacent Durham Cathedral was open for business, doing very nicely, as was Durham Castle on the other side of the temporarily covered ‘Green’, thank you very much.

Durham University Jazz Society invited Jasper Høiby to conduct a masterclass on Palace Green. The London-based Dane happened to be ‘up north’ in Wakefield on Friday evening with his band Fellow Creatures and an afternoon engagement in Durham the next day appeared to be an ideal arrangement for all concerned as Durham Cathedral’s bells rang out.
Bells pealed, and pealed, and pealed. Durham University’s ancient Music Department was hosting a symposium about something or other in a room to the left, and turning right through the door, the masterclass, soon to begin, would be conducted in peace once the bell ringing was done. DUJS’s Dan Garel and Tristan Bacon were making last minute preparations prior to bassist Høiby’s arrival,  and a student colleague was doing something important on a laptop. The Dane arrived and made for the first floor common room. Student musicians, the masterclass participants, started to arrive, student style, ie. in their own time. The stage set, Steinway grand at one side, Tristan’s drum kit at the other (in front of another, covered, Steinway).

Bells pealed, and pealed, and pealed. A relaxed Høiby strolled in, water, possibly coffee, in hand. Final year music student Dan Garel (seen and heard on killing alto at the Jazz Café’s jam session) introduced Mr Høiby to the still arriving students. Bells pealed, and pealed, and pealed. The Dane suggested that some of the participating students take to the stage to play a couple of numbers to enable him to gauge their abilities. Dan leapt into action…get the A-Team on stage! Dan, Tristan, bassist Dylan Purches (would Høiby be protective or hypercritical of a fellow member of the bass players’ union?) and pianist Sander Priston were among the first to give it their best shot.

Bells pealed, and pealed, and pealed. The Music Department is but a stone’s throw (oops!, sorry Bishop, we’ll phone for a glazier) from the pealing bells. A blues (Now’s the Time comes in useful on such occasions!), then Have You Met Miss Jones? Short solos all round. What would the Dane make of their efforts? Good! Fine! said Høiby. The bells pealed, and pealed, and pealed. Your BSH correspondent wondered if Quasimodo would put in an appearance.

Høiby thought it a good idea to take a look at one or two of his compositions. As dots were passed around, the Dane took centre stage behind the front line, calling out chord and key changes, giving encouragement where needed, stopping at times to expand upon his writing methods and thought processes. Høiby quipped: You said the bells would stop! Dan: They will! Bells pealed, and pealed, and pealed.

Two hours later, with a number of changes in the student line-up along the way including Zach Fox on alto saxophone, and Honor Hornsby, trumpet, it was time to go. An approachable Jasper Høiby had conducted an enjoyable, informative masterclass, and, with the bells pealing, it can be said the day was an unqualified success. Esmeralda, where are you?                        
Russell

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