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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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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, October 12, 2018

Tiptoe @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - October 11

Alice Higgins (vocals); Will Blackstone (trumpet/snare drum); Conall Mulvenna (guitar/backing vocals); Roz MacDonald (double bass). 
(Review by Lance).
It was one of those nights that you wanted to share with the world. But unfortunately, tonight was a rare night when our immediate world i.e. Newcastle/Gateshead was spoilt for choice when it came to quality singers.
Caro Emerald at Sage Gateshead, Paul Skerritt at the Jazz Café and of course the Indigo Jazz Voices down in Globeland.
Oh yes, and then there was Alice Higgins at Gosforth Jazz Club - was there not!
Remember that name and remember the name of the band - Tiptoe.
An appropriate name, for the four musicians do indeed tread softly which, given that the quartet includes trumpet and Fender Strat, two instruments rarely given to delicacy, is an achievement in itself.
The band got together at Leeds and have since received support via the Jazz Northern Line touring scheme and deservedly so (not always the case!)
Alice handles the vocals stylishly and with much musical acumen. Pitching and phrasing are impeccable.

Blackstone is nearer to Chet Baker than Kenny Baker opting for the terrestrial as opposed to the celestial register blowing lyrical, mostly open horn and, when not doing that, applying brushes to a snare drum.
Mulvenna is Irish and appears to be the nominal leader, doing the announcing, telling the jokes and playing a tasteful mix of single string and chordal solos.
Oh yes, and then there was Roz MacDonald - was there not!
One of the most melodic bassists I've heard. A clean sound and a clear conception of the changes (if she had an iPad I shudder to think where it was hidden) with solos that made sense.
The material was sound.
A Sleepin' Bee; Tea For Two (not done à la Anita thank goodness!); I Didn't Know What Time it Was; Tuesday Heartbreak (Stevie Wonder); I'm Beginning to See the Light (bass solo!!!); Mr Magic (music by Grover Washington Jr. lyric by Amy Winehouse); Sleepwalker (Emily King); September in the Rain.
Thus endeth the first set. A good mix of the old and the new. There weren't many of us present but no one made signs of leaving - how could they?
Eat your heart out Caro!
The second set began with the Basie classic Shiny Stockings with more than a hint of Ella.
You'd be so Nice to Come Home To; If I Were a Bell; How Do I Know? (band original); April in Paris; Rocket Love (Stevie Wonder); Mean to Me and My Lonely Days Are Gone.
Some may class it as Dinner Jazz but I prefer Banquet Jazz such was the musical feast set before the chosen few.
This was one of those rare occasions when I was disappointed that the band wasn't hawking CDs.
Photos.
Lance.

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