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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

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

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.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

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.

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.
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: 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.

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, February 24, 2018

James Taylor Quartet @ Hooochie Coochie - February 23

James Taylor (Hammond/vocals); Ralph Wyld (vibes); Andrew McKinney (bass guitar); Pat Illingworth (drums).
(Review by Lance).
Warren Thomson was smiling and Hoochie Coochie's Crown Prince had every right to crack a grin. The room was packed to near capacity and the James Taylor Quartet had just laid down  90 minutes of the jazziest, funkiest, take no prisoner grooves to be heard at the venue since their last visit. 
They hit the deck with Jesus Christ Superstar which I gather is their theme song although, in truth, it bore little resemblance to the Lloyd Webber original (I'm pleased to say). Taylor attacked the defenceless B3 with such ferocity that, had it been an animal, the RSPCA would have been called in! This was quite an opener and set the tone for the rest of the evening. Booker T's Green Onions followed along with other numbers, some of which I recognised and some of which I didn't. Who cared? A rose by any other name etc.

Of course, it wasn't all forearm smashes. Across the stage, Ralph Wyld, one of, if not the, best vibes players in the country brought a touch of sanity to the proceedings with some of the most swinging vibes playing you're ever likely to hear this side of Lionel Hampton's grave.
Sitting, not unobtrusively, at the back of the stage, drummer Illingworth gave it the 'seven shades' treatment. After Thursday night, at The Globe, I thought nothing would top Marton Juhasz with the Alan Benzie Trio but Illingworth raised the bar to an even higher level. Barry Black with the Customs House Big Band has it all to do tonight!
On bass guitar, Andrew McKinney - playing hooky from BIM where he is head of the bass department - kept his head holding it all together but, when let loose, proved to be as outré as the other three.
There was much audience participation with lots of choral work from the floor, arm-waving, hand - clapping, counting up to ten in English, French and German (don't ask me!) Taylor had a few vocals, none of which threatened Ed Sheeran, I don't suppose he'd want them to. He's a showman and one helluva musician.
Come back soon!
Lance.
PS: Other numbers included the themes from the movie Blow Out and the tv series Starsky and Hutch. The audience was just old enough to remember them.

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