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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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.

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, December 09, 2017

The Early Bird Band @ The Jazz Café - Dec 9

James Metcalf (trumpet), Matthew Downey (guitar), Ben Lawrence (keyboards), Alex Shipsey (bass) & Rory Gardener (drums) + Paul Edis (tenor saxophone & flute) 
(Review by Russell)
One or two changes to the usual line-up today – the Thompsons weren’t available due to recording commitments and guitarist Matthew Downey would soon dash to a show engagement. Busy young men are the Early Birds! Occasional drum dep Rory Gardener made good use of the house kit and pianist Ben Lawrence sat at the Caff’s Nord keyboard. MD Paul Edis informed the audience that in today’s setlist there would be a Christmassy element…bah humbug!

 Five tunes in half an hour with the band in good form, sharing the solos, the Early Bird’ workshop is continuing to deliver the goods. Trumpeter James Metcalf sounded great on Autumn Leaves (Miles muted, then open horn), Horace Silver’s Song for My Father heard more from Metcalf followed by a seated Matthew Downey, guitar, and the similarly sedentary but in no way pedestrian Alex Shipsey on bass guitar. Downey a picture of concentration reading the dots, Shipsey spot-on throughout, as in-the-pocket as you like, with a first-rate solo to boot.

This being the bah humbug time of year the Early Birds went out on a jazzy Santa Claus is Coming to Town. The laconic Ben Lawrence knows his way around the keyboard, that’s for sure, but due to sporting a dodgy Christmas jumper two marks were automatically deducted…only joking! Drummer Gardener did just fine, particularly in his use of brushes, and as and when a dep is required Rory G is one of several talented musicians Dr Edis is able to call upon.

The Early Birds will be out and about in 2018, but, before then, one or two of the lads could well put in an appearance at the Jazz Café’s final jam session of the year on Tuesday 19th December. Pink Lane promises to be busy long before the eight o’clock start, arrive early, and look out for the Early Birds.

 Russell.           

No comments :

Blog Archive