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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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: 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: ???

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

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender 2018: Saturday afternoon in the Fire Station

(Review by Russell)
As with all good festivals, the Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender utilised more than one stage to establish a sense of occasion - step out of one hall and there, in an adjacent room, another session was underway. Saturday, the middle day of three, presented two top class performances in the old fire station, now beautifully restored thanks to oodles of cash being thrown at it. 

A box office banker of a duo - James Birkett and Emma Fisk - entertained a full to overflowing Fire Station crowd. Dinah (no, there isn't anyone finer), the Venuti-Lang Hot Four's Kicking the Cat and Birkett's paean to fellow guitarist Eddie Lang, this was world class stuff. Ain't Misbehavin'Cheese and Crackers and an exquisite reading of I'm Confessin'  - Town Hall patrons could have listened to Birkett and Fisk all night but all good things come to an end, on this occasion, just in time for the audience to make its way to the main hall to hear Chris Barber. Violinist Emma Fisk, playing with her usual elan, and master guitarist James Birkett on top form sent us on our way with a swift take on Lady Be Good.  
Earlier, Roly VeitchNoel Dennis and Neil Harland had set the ball rolling. Thework together on an occasional basis. The Great American Songbook is their thing, and few, if any, do it better. Guitarist Veitch is the man who has kept the GASbook flame burning on Tyneside for something like thirty-five years and from time to time he meets up with Teesside's own trumpet maestro Dennis and the always in demand bassist Harland to play a few tunes penned by the great composers including Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and the Gershwins. 

Alone Together, for starters, in a rapidly filling room, Stella by Starlight (played at Blaydon Jazz Club on countless occasions) and then the Gershwins' But Not for Me featuring Roly's Chet Baker-ish vocals. 

The white-walled Fire Station's retro-chic sofas (60s Scandinavian-style?) were all sat upon as the next main hall concert loomed with the Roly Veitch Trio playing another gem - Beautiful Love.
Russell.

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