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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

17755 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 76 of them this year alone and, so far, 1 this month (Feb.1).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Lewis Watson Quartet @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Latin jazz/top-rated dance bands.
Thu 06: Rose Room @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 06: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Helen Barber (vocals) & Alex Moon (piano).
Thu 06: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. Guests: Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Donna Hewitt (alto sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Graham Thompson (keys); Ron Smith (bass). 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session is now monthly, first Thursday in the month.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 07: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Old Lowlight, Clifford’s Fort, North Shields NE30 1JE. 7:00pm. £15.00. + bf. www.oldlowlight.co.uk. SOLD OUT!
Fri 07: Stuart Turner Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Jazz, blues, Americana etc.
Fri 07: Dean Stockdale Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 07: Rose Room @ Wylam Institute. 8:00pm. £19.67.
Fri 07: John Rowland Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 08: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 08: Anth Purdy @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. ‘Swing Jazz Guitar’.
Sat 08: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra event. All welcome.

Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

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.

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

Monday, March 19, 2018

Jason Isaacs & the Ambassadors of Swing @ Hoochie Coochie - March 18.

Jason Isaacs (vocal/tenor); Darren Irwin, Mark Webb (trumpets); Dave Brock (trombone); Sue Ferris (alto/flute/clarinet); Alexis Cairns (tenor/clarinet); Stu Collingwood (keys); Neil Harland (bass); Simon Ferry (drums).
(Review by Lance).
Hoochie Coochie was steaming, the snow outside melting, inside, the air was filled with the aromas usually inhaled at Fenwick's cosmetic counters. I'm sure there was some aftershave in there too but, just as it was in the old days at Sinatra, Elvis and Dino gigs, us males were in the minority.
Yup! Jason was back at Hoochie and, as always, the crowd adored him.
He was in good voice - is he ever not? - Wonderwall; Beyond the Sea; Mr Bojangles; Ain't that a Kick in the Head? and Let it Snow had the room buzzing. The band were right behind him booting it along all the way.
Why Don't You Do Right? featured the singer who, from my perspective, appeared to be only slightly less tall than Grey's Monument,  blowing tenor and yes, he could give up the day job!
Elvis time - Just Can't Help Believing. Frank time - That's Life. Cab Calloway time - Minnie the Moocher and the room hi-di-hi and ho-di-hoing.
King of the Road then more Elvis and the American Trilogy. Now, don't get me wrong. It's a great arrangement and Jason sings it as if he was standing on the steps of the White House but, sorry, I'm afraid it always makes me cringe.
Sway was more relaxing, the gentle Latin rhythm coaxing a few dancers on to the floor.
Interval time.
Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown had the room jumping from bar one but it was Cheek to Cheek that they crowded the floor for. 
Moon Dance; One For my Baby with just Jason and Stu reenacting the classic barroom ballad. More Elvis - The Wonder of You. Mucho audience participation on Can't Take my Eyes Off You; Lou Rawls' You're Gonna Miss my Lovin';  rock and roll with Jump Jive. The dancers were up for this one and my two companions for the evening were in the middle of it all shimmying like their sister Kate.
Spandau Ballet's Your Indestructible is designed as a sax battle between Jason and Lewis Watson. However, Lew was indisposed so it was up to Alexis Cairns to pick up the gauntlet. The girl did good but, if she'd stood up to blow instead of remaining seated, she may have got the decision!
The afternoon/evening was drawing to a close but not before Suspicious Minds;  the killer New York New York, and Everybody Needs Somebody.
Simply fantastic. Singer, band, venue and, of course, the man who makes it all happen - Warren.
More photos.
Lance.
PS: More big band jazz on April 22 with SSBB.

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