Total Pageviews

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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

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.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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.

Blog Archive