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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

18018 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 339 of them this year alone and, so far, 17 this month (May 7).

From This Moment On ...

MAY 2025

Thu 15: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: The Greatest in Jazz - Guitarists.
Thu 15: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 15: New Ways of Moving in the Counterworlds @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). John Garner & John Pope.

Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Sophie Speed with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ Longframlington Memorial Hall. 7:00pm (doors). Tickets: £12.00. from 01665 570984.
Fri 16: Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00.
Fri 16: Peter Donegan & Anthony Donegan @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. ‘Lonnie Donegan - The Stories’.

Sat 17: Teresa Watson Band @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sat 17: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Tel: 0191 500 9494. £26.00 (inc. two course meal). Line-up: Jason Holcomb, Hannah Taylor, Alix Shepherd & Abbie Finn.
Sat 17: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 17: Archie Brown & the Young Bucks @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues, Americana etc.
Sat 17: Rockin’ Turner Brothers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Rockabilly, Western swing etc.

Sun 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 18: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 18: Ruth Lambert & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 18: Steve Summers Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 19: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 19: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 20: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.
Tue 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Pleased to Meet You, Bridge St., Morpeth NE61 1ND. 8:00pm.

Wed 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 21: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 21: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Tony Irving & Massimo Magee @ The Globe - Jan 28

Tony Irving (drums); Massimo Magee (soprano & tenor sax)
(Review by Russell) 

It was billed on the Jazz Co-op's website as 'Tony Irving & Massimo Magee & Guests...seven o'clock'. In the event, the 'guests' failed to materialise and for a while your correspondent was the only bod on the premises, save for Jazz Co-op mover and shaker, Debra M. 

At quarter past eight, as Irving and Magee were about to begin (yep, an hour and a quarter after the advertised seven o'clock start - or should that have been 'doors'?) some of the usual suspects (they're rarely seen at 'jazz' gigs) had arrived, no doubt ready for some 'no-genre' music. Saxophonist Magee spoke briefly: drummer Irving would open the first set with a solo piece, Magee would follow with a solo piece of his own, then there would be a duo second set. For the remainder of the evening, neither Magee nor Irving said another word. Cool.

A drum solo, sorry, 'improvisation', took up fifteen minutes of our time followed by a similar span of time featuring Magee's circular breathing, uncomfortably pitched soprano sax workout. Technique to burn, Magee's approach owed something to the 'fire music' first heard more than half a century ago. 

The interval: a cassette tape (hey, kids, Google 'DIY underground retro music format') was for sale, bottles of Black Sheep were for sale at the bar. 

Second set - Irving and Magee served up some more free improv 'no-genre' stuff. No eye contact required, nor possible with Magee standing in front of drummer Magee, the men of few words let their improvisations do the talking.       
Russell

5 comments :

Debra Milne said...

Apologies for the inaccurate start time Russell, although it did state 7.30pm on the FB event page. I think it's worth noting that the Jazz Bar at The Globe was full (I had to relinquish my seat behind the bar) and Tony & Massimo chatted to many in the audience between sets. Clearly not Russell's gig of the year, but well received by many who were there.

Gavin said...

You think he'd be impressed that Magee managed to stand in front of himself playing drums. It is a shame they stuck to playing & didn't perform the standup routines they're renowned for.

Russell said...

Well spotted Gavin. Clearly Bebop Spoken Here could do with a proof reader!

Steve T said...

Cassettes are the new vinyls.

Anonymous said...

For those who would like to hear for themselves, the bulk of this performance forms part of an upcoming new album, available for pre-order now from New York's 577 Records: http://www.577records.com/5835

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