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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ 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

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Crescent Club, Cullercoats - March 28

Brian Bennett (banjo); Bob Wade (trumpet); Brian Chester (trombone); Jim McBriarty (clarinet/alto); Bill Colledge (bass); Fred Thompson (drums/vocal); John Broddle (vocal).
(Review by Lance).
I had a couple of hours to spare before Tom's funeral so I dropped by the Crescent Club in Cullercoats to catch the first set by the Vieux Carré Jazzmen. Never a bad thing to do, particularly if you're sampling the real ales on offer as you listen. Unfortunately, I was driving and under doctor's orders not to partake so it was Coca-Cola for me.
Before Who's Sorry Now got the ball rolling, a rendition of Happy Birthday was sung by all to John Broddle who would himself soon be taking to the stage. However, on WSN it was Fred Thompson who knew all the words.
A spirited version of Rosetta before it was time for the birthday boy and Deep Purple followed by Running Wild. Somehow, it was difficult to imagine this audience running wild although no doubt back in the day...
Next up was an instrumental Otchichornya aka Dark Eyes followed by Fred Thompson singing Way Down Yonder in New Orleans although, of course, he was still in Cullercoats. Swinging the Blues had some unusual voicings in the head although there was nothing unusual about the solos from the horns. McBriarty is equally at home on alto or clarinet floating through the changes as if he'd been doing it all his life. Come to think of it, he probably has. Bob Wade leads from the front with the power and the panache of, say, Yank Lawson or Max Kaminsky and moving the VCJ a little further up the Mississippi than in days of yore. On trombone, Brian Chester, depping for the ailing McBriarty major, ensured they didn't stray too far from the levee. A combination of contrasting styles that made every number interesting.
The intermission time was beckoning and it wouldn't be long before I was heading for the graveyard - perhaps I should have requested St. James Infirmary Blues. As it was, John Broddle returned and gave us Roses of Picardy. Not a tune you hear very often with banjo accompaniment.
Happy Birthday, John.
Lance.
PS: Unfortunately, I missed Miles sitting in on trumpet and vocal - next time!

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