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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

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs 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.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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

Thursday, November 22, 2018

George Shovlin and the Acoustic Radars @ Charts, Newcastle - Nov 21

George Shovlin (guitar, vocals); George Lamb (guitar); Paul Wilson (piano); John Taylor (bass guitar); Kev Scott (drums)
(Review by Russell) 

Thanks to Pub Culture (Dun Cow, Fire Station, Peacock in Sunderland, Dun Cow, Jesmond, Newcastle) acquiring and redeveloping the long-since closed Flynn's pub on Newcastle Quayside, veteran bluesman George Shovlin has set about establishing a blues night at the company's latest addition to its portfolio.    


Charts, as no.63 Quayside is now known, already hosts a weekly jazz jam session (Sundays 4:00-7:00pm, sitters-in welcome!) and now blues is on the menu. Wednesdays at eight there is a gig featuring some of the best of the region's bluesmen (and women). During October, the Trevors - Sewell and Brewis - played a gig at the waterside venue, as did Martin Fletcher and Chris James and the duo Auld Man's Baccie. Last night it was the turn of Shovlin himself and, in playing an acoustic set, he invited his Radars to join him. 

The split level pub with its walls full of artworks for sale (a black and white print of Billie Holiday has gone, sold last week) was busy a little after eight o'clock as Shovlin played some Furry Lewis. Fans and fellow musicians made the effort to get along and support this new venture. The hand pull dispensing Mordue's Workie Ticket worked overtime as Shovlin reworked some familiar material alongside one or two originals from the Radars' new album Nothing to Lose including Don't You Just Love the Blues? 

Jimmy Reed's Bright Lights, Big City stirred memories of 'Spoon singing the number up the road at the Corner House, Got Love if You Want It stirred memories of listening over and over to Slim Harpo on CD and then there was Big Maceo's Worried Life Blues

Blues at Charts is heading in the right direction - audience numbers are encouraging and, with Mr Shovlin's enthusiasm for the music, this one could be a winner. Next week (Wednesday 28), in a late change to the programme, Johnny Dickinson will be on stage from eight. The planned appearance of blues shouter Mo Scott (Little Mo, to some), is to be rescheduled to a later date.              

Russell 

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