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Bebop Spoken There

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Postage

16287 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 169 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (Mar 18).

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Saturday, October 06, 2018

George Sykes & Friends @ Prohibition Bar - October 5

George Sykes Quartet: George Sykes (tenor saxophone); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass, bass guitar); Joe Shaw (drums) + Julija Jacenaite (vocals); Jason Holcomb (trombone); Holly Sykes (trumpet); Craig Irving (guitar)
(Review by Russell)
George Sykes and Friends…exactly as anticipated a ‘friendly’ gathering of friends, acquaintances old and new. Tenor saxophonist George Sykes has made quite an impact on the local scene sitting-in around town, standing toe-to-toe with the north east’s big hitters. A ready smile, appreciative of his fellow musicians, a nice bloke, that’s Newcastle University student Sykes.    

‘Spillett tempo’, the first scribbled note. No messing around, straight in with a super-fast Devil May Care. We got the Harry Warren chart, Johnny Burke’s lyrics were for another time. Matching Sykes all the way were pianist Alan Law, double bass man Paul Grainger and a new face, Joe Shaw, drums. Sykes and Shaw go back to their days on the Leicestershire proving ground of the youth big band scene. Shaw is yet another medic (there’s something about medicine and music, ostensibly an unlikely meeting of arts and sciences) more than capable of playing jazz to a high standard.
A Dizzying Night in Tunisia maintained the feverish tempo until JJ walked in. Julija Jacenaite hadn’t been sighted for some time and within minutes she had joined the boys for a slow take on All of Me. Slow that is, for the first verse, then a snap of her fingers and we were off again at a lick.   

High octane playing is thrilling stuff, that’s for sure, but it was Sykes who produced something unexpected, something rather special, with a heart-felt tribute to the late Barrie ‘Baz’ Ascroft. Out tenor man spoke warmly of Barrie’s supportive, welcoming demeanour at Dave Weisser’s Take it to the Bridge jazz workshop. Alan Law knew Barrie well and he too remembered the good times. In a Sentimental Mood was for Barrie. A memorable moment.

Blue Bossa, Shaw handling the Latin rhythms with ease, Law in his element, it was time to introduce one or two guests. For one number only (he didn’t hang around),  suited and booted in regulation Friday evening ‘function gig’ apparel, step forward, Jason Holcomb. The globe-trotting American trombonist is heard rarely on the jazz scene but when he is around, it’s worth the wait. There Will Never Be Another You (more Harry Warren) featured Holcomb’s cast iron trombone playing alongside the vocals of the returning Jacenaite. And he was gone. A new name to note is that of guitarist Craig Irving, featured this evening on Cantaloupe Island  Craig is another friend of George. Let’s hear Craig and drummer Joe sitting-in at jam sessions!

It was gone eleven and almost time to go but, but…George invited his ‘little sister’ Holly Sykes to join the party on Sunny Side of the Street! Holly plays trumpet. Big brother George insisted she stay on for the closer. When the Saints went down a treat as big brother George encouraged Holly to play another chorus. Great stuff. The place went nuts!  
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Alice Grace Trio: Alice Grace (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass) 

Earlier in the evening Alice Grace sang. A guest of Sykes, Ms Grace, a top drawer attraction in her own right was playing a first gig with Alan Law. On the evidence of this evening’s performance , supported by the redoubtable Paul Grainger, it would come as little surprise if further gigs were to be listed on Bebop Spoken Here.     

Ms Grace suggested she felt a little nervous in such an intimate setting without the security blanket of a roaring big band behind her. Ah, we know better, don’t we? An opening But Not for Me through to Blue Skies and on to As Time Goes By, this was  nothing other than a vocal masterclass. It Could Happen to You (comp. Jimmy Van Heusen, lyrics Johnny  Burke), on this occasion including Johnny Burke’s lyrics, the scatting Ms Grace held Prohibition Bar’s audience in the palm of her hand. One Note Samba (the tune with more than one note!), then a favourite tune  of pianist Alan Law – Bye Bye Blackbird. As a support set how lucky were we? Alice Grace is a headline act, anywhere, anytime.    
Russell      

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