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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

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.

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, October 17, 2018

Mingus Big Band + Leo Richardson Quartet @ Ronnie Scott's - October 17

Mingus Big Band: Alex Sipiagin, Philip Harper, Alex Norris (trumpets); Andy Hunter, Conrad Herwig (trombones); Earl  McIntyre (bass trombone); Abraham Burton (tenor sax), Wayne Escoffrey (tenor sax); Alex Terrier (alto sax), Brandon Wright (alto sax); Lauren Sevian (baritone sax); Helen Sung (piano); Boris Kozlov (double bass); Donald Edwards (drums)
(Review by Lance)
If I was on a high last night after the APPJAG awards ("Not that again" I hear you say!) well tonight, I was on an even bigger high after hearing the Mingus Big Band - they were nothing less than sensational. However, as they play another few nights at Ronnie's and are at the Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender on Sunday I'm not going to do a 'spoiler' and give you a blow by blow account. Instead, I'll merely say, miss it at your peril
Afterward, I floated down Frith St., not even contemplating the delights of a Thai Massage or the neon sign that said, simply, Girls, Girls, Girls. No, tonight really was the business and, if you've ever heard a better big band session it must have been hearing Mingus himself at New York Town Hall way back when.
This Sunday, change New York Town Hall to Middlesbrough Town Hall - You will certainly not regret it. Book now!
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Leo Richardson Quartet: Leo Richardson Quartet (tenor sax); Rick Simpson (piano); Tim Thornton (double bass); Ed Richardson (drums) 

The opening set was by the Leo Richardson Quartet and, on any other night, in any other place in the world, they would be unbeatable. And perhaps they were from a small group point of view. I waxed eloquent over the group's initial album, released last year, and hearing them live was another moment to bookmark.
Teessider Simpson, who will be at Middlesbrough on Sunday afternoon with Hailey Tuck, played some amazing piano, Richardson (Leo) proved to be equally dazzling - how can any man play so many notes without losing his way? Richardson (Ed), who isn't related, drove the band to Birdland and back whilst bassman Thornton kept the whole caboodle from going off track.
What a night - 2 great bands.
I need to lie down in a darkened room!
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Earlier, whilst browsing in Skoob Books. I met up with Nigel Mooney, blues guitarist/singer. We agreed that it was amazing to have two bookshops (Judd Books was the other) with such an excellent selection of jazz in the same street. Could only happen in London. Nice to have met you Nigel.
Lance.

1 comment :

Patti said...

Ah - fabulous! I'm seeing the Mingus Big Band on Sunday - and I'm even more excited now, after reading your review, Lance. It's amazing you managed to write such a coherently enthusiastic one after all the highs from your London trip!

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