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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

17985(and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 306 of them this year alone and, so far, 62 this month (April 26).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: International Jazz Day @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £16.00.; £14.00. adv.. Feat. Guido Spannocchi, John Pope & Steve Hanley + Take it to the Bridge participants + Open Mic Night participants.

MAY 2025

Thu 01: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Member’s Contribution.
Thu 01: Alabaster de Plume @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 01: Living in Shadows + OUTRI @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: The Shayo Experiment @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Shayo Oshodi & Liam Oliver.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ STACK, Seaburn. 4:30-6:15pm. Free.
Fri 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:00pm. £7.50. A ‘Nauta’s House’ gig featuring Nauta & guests Shayo Oshodi & David Gray.
Fri 02: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 02: Dom Pipkin @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Solo piano.
Fri 02: Abbie Finn Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00. + bf.

Sat 03: Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Summer Samba Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 03: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Postmodern Jukebox @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Sat 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £3.00. + bf.
Sat 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:30pm. Free.

Sun 04: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 04: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 04: Ben Crosland Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Friday, September 21, 2018

Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil - September 21

Paul Edis (piano, vocals)
(Review by Russell/Photo 1 courtesy of  Jerry E. Photo 2 Brian E) 
Anything Durham's Gala Theatre can do...yes, there was a full house today at the Lit and Phil for a solo piano concert by Paul Edis. Is one o'clock weekdays the new late night jazz gig? Folk certainly turn out for a one-hour lunchtime set, a cup of tea or coffee, perhaps a glass of wine and, of course, the music.

It's Only a Paper MoonFrom Nothing to Nowhere (comp. Edis) and Hypnotized (comp. Edis), so that's a Gasbook classic (with vocals!) and two numbers by today's performer, pianist/promoter/producer/educator/juggler Paul Edis, the second of which received its public premiere a couple of weeks ago up the road in Hexham at the Fox Inn during a Triptych (Edis, Paul Susans, Rob Walker) gig. 
More from the pen of Dr Edis - It Takes Time with another vocal, the tune originally an instrumental for the Paul Edis Sextet titled Rome Wasn't Built in a Day, and Of Mice and Men, not really anything to do with Steinbeck explained Edis, although plenty to do with the American jazz piano tradition from the Dust Bowl 1930s to the present - think Junior Mance, Dr. Billy Taylor and the sanctifying streak running through its veins.   

One Note Samba contained almost as many notes as this blog (Bebop Spoken Here) has had hits - 3,500,000 and counting! Polka Dots and Moonbeams the ballad, My Favorite Things the selection from the book of Broadway musicals, and Wise Words another selection from the pad of P. Edis.

The afternoon's final number - Almost Like Being in Love - featured more singing. Is there no stopping Edis? Apparently not! The vocal style? Not exactly Nat Cole, more like Mose Allison or, for those who know the northeast jazz scene, akin to Gerry Richardson. The piano playing was of the serious jazz kind, indeed throughout the one hour set, the piano playing was never less than superb. 

And so to the encore. There was always going to be one and Dr. Edis chose to go out on All the Things You Are, singing to boot! An informed member of the audience offered: It's from the musical Very Warm for May. Educated? This was the Literary and Philosophical Society, you know. 

Next month, Friday, October 5, at one o'clock, there is a special occasion when Nikki Iles will be playing the Lit and Phil's Kawai piano in a duo concert with saxophonist Stan Sulzmann. The concert is one of many events during the second Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music. Advance tickets - £10 and £8 - are available from the venue.        
Russell.

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