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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

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, April 07, 2018

GIJF Day 1: Tony Allen - A Tribute to Art Blakey; Zara McFarlane; Tiptoe - Sage Gateshead, April 6

Tony Allen (drums); Jean Phil Bary (piano/organ); Mathias Allamane (bass); ? (guitar); Nicolas Giraud (trumpet); Yann Jankieiewicz (tenor).
(Review by Lance/Zara McFarlane photo courtesy of Ken Drew.)
A tribute band can take two approaches: a) they can play the tried and tested hits that the audience recognise and start applauding a few bars in or, b) They attempt to convey the 'feel' of the original whilst putting their own take on the music. This latter approach is the more sensible, you're never going to beat the original - it's impossible - they got there first.
Wisely, Tony Allen took this latter approach looking more towards the later Blakey years rather than the Silver beginnings.
The 78-year-old drummer played a program with a strong ethnic feel to it as befitted a tribute to a man also known as 'Buhaina' and who himself [Allen] was born in Nigeria.
Not the overpowering backseat driver that Blakey was, Allen, nevertheless, kept the other five on their toes.
Particularly impressive were pianist Bary and bassist Allamane. The guitarist, sorry I didn't catch her name, had a good blast but I was disappointed not to hear more from the horns. When they did solo I wanted more but their position at the side of the stage indicated they were there as a section rather than individuals. 
All in all a good start to the weekend.
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Zara McFarlane (vocal); Peter Edwards (piano/synth); Max Luthert (bass); Sam Jones (drums); Binker Golding (tenor).
Zara McFarlane opened this three band bash (Sun Ra Arkestra review later) and it was an excellent start. Zara has good clear diction and a vocal range the envy of many of her contemporaries. A program of originals from her latest album Arise made for a steady, well-balanced set. Apart from the singer's outstanding performance, we had Binker Golding blowing tenor to die for. Binker without Moses may seem like Dec without Ant but both Binker and Moses are great musicians in their own right and, no doubt, they have many more duo gigs ahead. Tonight, however, it was Sam Jones behind the kit and he was awesome. So too was Peter Edwards on piano and synth all ably supported by Max Luthert on bass.
The shouted for and received encore was well-deserved. 
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Tiptoe: Alice Higgins (vocals); Will Blackstone (trumpet); Conall Mulvenna (guitar); Roz MacDonald (bass).
Down on The Concourse, the Jazz North supported 'Northern Line' ensemble Tiptoe served up the aperitif with a tasty selection of songs showcasing four fine musicians from Leeds. Catch them again - they're worth hearing in a more intimate setting.

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