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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

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

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Jam Session @ the Black Swan - April 16

Ben Gilbert (keys); Paul Grainger (bass); Russ Morgan (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Lachlan Fotheringham (soprano sax); John Pope, Dave Parker (bass); Walter Feeney (trumpet); Abbie Finn, Matt Fairhurst (drums); Debra Milne (vocals); Poppy Pagan (vocals/flute).
(Review/PHOTOS by Lance).

Some 11 years ago, when BSH was first launched into cyberspace, much of the action took place down on Newcastle's quayside at the Side Café. One of the many emerging talents from that era was pianist Ben Gilbert whose flame flickered brightly and briefly before disappearing and turning to [the] Smoke. Now based in Leeds, he heeded the call to Graingertown for the highly esteemed Black Swan jam session where he displayed the maturity we all knew would blossom.  



Jazz is an ever ongoing thing and, just like Ben all those years ago, tonight a new star was born. Walter Feeney is but 17 yet his playing belied those tender years. A full, round, tone that was closer to Lee Morgan or Clifford Brown rather than Miles or Dizzy was heard to good advantage on a tentative There Will Never be Another You and a more assured Solar that got the unbridled applause from the 'cynics on the sofa'.

Not that this was the only highlight. Harry Keeble is rapidly moving to the forefront of the tenor team and it was a shame the other tenor regulars were absent as the last number shoot-out could well have been the foundation of a legend.

For once there was no shortage of bassists with both John Pope and Dave Parker giving PG's fingertips a spell. Likewise, drummers Finn and Fairhurst took turns on the throne.

Lachlan Fotheringham is so tall he makes his soprano sax seem like a peashooter - until he blows! He encapsulates the history of the instrument from Bechet to Coltrane which is no mean achievement for a guy I last heard playing clarinet in a New Orleans style band. Jazz sans frontières.

Debra Milne sang Coltrane's Equinox and Don't Get Around Much Anymore whilst Poppy gave her own interpretation of Aqua De Beber singing and fluting distinctively.

The house trio, who had opened the evening with In Your Own Sweet Way, gave an equally impressive In Walked Bud before Harry and Walter took us out with Straight No Chaser.
Yet another enjoyable evening at 'The Greatest Show on Earth'.
Lance PHOTOS

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