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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, May 09, 2018

Darlington Jazz Festival: Jeff Barnhart & John Hallam @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre - May 5

Jeff Barnhart (piano, vocals); John Hallam (tenor & baritone saxophones, clarinet); Keith Stephen (guitar, banjo); Bruce Rollo (double bass, vocals)
(Review by Russell)
Darlington New Orleans Jazz club has been presenting the best in jazz – from ragtime to swing, all things New Orleans to Dixieland, hot dance music and a nod to the ‘revivalists’ – for more than two decades. Darlington Jazz Festival’s decision to change its established late April slot in the calendar to the first week in May meant that the New Orleans’ session could be incorporated into the festival with the prospect of benefitting from the wider publicity generated by a high profile, five-day event.
Meeting on the first Saturday lunchtime in the month at St Augustine’s Parish Centre on the corner of Larchfield Street the New Orleans Jazz Club presented American pianist Jeff Barnhart renewing acquaintance with reedsman John Hallam and their rhythm section friends, guitarist Keith Stephen and bassist Bruce Rollo – collectively they’re affectionately known as the Mr Men. Glorious weather could have persuaded some to forego their monthly fix of classic era jazz, but any such fears were allayed with a large turn out keen to hear more from the returning piano virtuoso Jeff Barnhart.

Fine and Dandy suggested Barnhart, or was it Hallam? Whoever it was, the quartet – four amiable characters – readily agreed to play it. John Hallam on tenor took a first solo, Barnhart encouraging his friend to play before taking a solo of his own followed by Keith Stephen and slap bass exponent Bruce Rollo. Solos all round, everyone happy (Mr Men and audience), the perfect start to the May meeting of Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. Maestro Barnhart suggested maestro Stephen take the intro to (Give Me) A Kiss to Build a Dream on with John Hallam playing clarinet for the first time during the afternoon. Swing that Music swung and at this juncture, it was time for your reviewer to depart for another session about to get underway at the Quakerhouse in Mechanics’ Yard.

The full setlist at St Augustine’s was as follows (with thanks to Patti D):
Fine and Dandy, (Give Me) A Kiss to Build a Dream on, Swing that Music, Doin’ the Crazy Walk, Si Tu Vois Ma Mère, Sweet Sue, Burgundy Street and Just Friends.

A Jeff Barnhart solo ragtime selection preceded the second set

Stompin’ at the Savoy, You Brought a New kind of Love to Me, Stealin’ Apples, Nuages, After You’ve Gone, It’s Been a Long, Long Time, Dinah, There Will Never Be Another You.
Russell

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