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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

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Kansas Smitty's House Band @ Sage Gateshead - November 9

Pete Horsfall (trumpet, vocals); Giacomo Smith (alto/clarinet); Adrian Cox (clarinet/vocals); David Archer (guitar); Joe Webb (piano); Ferg Ireland (double bass); Will Cleasby (drums).
(Review by Lance).
A cracking gig by a band that more or less lived up to its status as 'Best Small Group' in the recent British Jazz Awards. I use the qualifier as this is a very danceable group and, had we been at their home base, Kansas Smitty's in London, the floor would have been awash with dancers. As it was, the rows of seats in Sage Two limited such activity. 

Nevertheless, the band played a storming and varied programme ranging from Jelly Roll Morton style rags and stomps to Louis Jordan influenced rhythm 'n' blues via small group Ellington. 

Jelly Roll was typified by the finger-busting piano solos of Joe Webb and an original inspired by early banjoist/guitarist Johnny St. Cyr. Leader 'Smitty' gave a look of surprise when an audience member, not sitting a million miles from me, gave a cry of recognition at the name - we know our jazz up here as well as realising that Newcastle and Gateshead are separate entities. 

Curtis Stigers knew this on Monday. Perhaps he should have enlightened Giacomo back when he collaborated with him and Adrian on Take Me Home, a number that was sung, on this occasion, by Cox as well as having a fine guitar solo and a blistering ensemble to take it out.

After Midnight with its Ellington overtones brought to mind the lovely small group Harry Hayes led in the late 1940s. Smith's solo had that Hayes/Hodges feel to it and the arrangement the same luxurious harmonies.

As leader, it was no surprise that GS was well featured. His alto style covered everything from Rudy Weidhoft to Charlie Parker and beyond. Leo, a composition dedicated to some footballer or other was pure bebop with alto and guitar playing unison lines in the head.

Smitty and Cox duetted on Blue Peter. The former's clarinet held horizontally, the latter at the more traditional 45° angle. Both sounded good.

Although Pete Horsfall had a vocal feature, he took comparatively few trumpet solos which was a shame, still, all in all, it was a most enjoyable evening and I'd have happily followed them to Brussels for their next gig.
Lance.

2 comments :

NeilC said...

I was there Lance I thought they were absolutely brilliant . 7 Competent Musicians who just gelled , the music was varied but every song was a gem . I loved the Movin On [whistling song] particularly but they were all excellent . I was sat upstairs with a great view of the Piano player and his fingers were at times a blur sure he would give Jools a run for his money anytime . I have paid considerably more to see concerts where the artist and artists is not half as good as they were. I was just so glad I secured tickets.

Lance said...

You and me both, Noel.

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