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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

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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.

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, May 09, 2019

Customs House Big Band @ Dormans Jazz Festival Middlesbrough - May 2

(Review by Ron H)

The series of guest bands contributing to the Mini Jazz Festival was brought to a close with a magnificent performance by the Customs House Big Band led by Peter Morgan and with Ruth Lambert on vocals  playing to a capacity and enthusiastic audience.

Starting the first set with Recuedos from the Stan Kenton’s Cuban Fire album and fine solos from Mick Hill, Dave Brocklesby and Jim McBriarty on tenor, gave the audience a flavour of what was to be an exciting night of big band music.

Gershwin’s There's A Boat That’s Leaving Soon For New York had an excellent alto solo from Alan Marshall and Bob Florence's Nobody's Human featured a fine piano solo from John Stevenson.

Ruth Lambert took centre stage to sing The Very Thought Of You, following  it with a swinging Our Love Is Here To Stay.

Interesting arrangements of Bluer Than Blue, Blue Bossa and Ruth Lambert’s moving version of The Man I Love, before the first set was brought to a close with a great  version of Basically Blues with a fine trombone solo from Neville Hartley.

Bob Florence's arrangement of Afternoon of a Prawn got things rolling again before moving on to Monk's take on Sweet Georgia BrownBright Mississippi - with solos from all the big hitters.

Ruth returned to sing That Ole' Devil Called Love and Almost Like Being In Love in her usual inimitable way. After the relaxed Easy Street, A Narrow Escape featured Bradley Johnston, an excellent drum solo from Abbie Finn and bass from Karen Maughan. 

Don't Know Why, a modern ballad, was beautifully sung by Ruth before the night almost ended with Steppin' Out before Ruth stepped up for the encore – Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhapssinging the version used as the theme tune in the TV series Coupling.

This excellent band led by Peter Morgan on bass trombone brought the mini-festival to an end giving a delighted audience a night to remember.

I must apologize to the musicians that I failed to mention as I was so engrossed in listening to the band to make more than quick notes.

Once again, thanks go to Dormans Club for their help and support.
Ron H

Bob Temple, Mick Hill, Ken DeVere, Ben Chinnery, (trumpets); Dave Brocklesby, Neville Hartley, Michael Fletcher, Peter Morgan (M.D.) (trombones); Alan Marshall, Sue Hurrell, Jim McBriarty, Josh Bentham, Chris Kaberry, (saxes); John Stephenson (piano); Karen Maughan (bass); Abbie Finn (drums); Bradley Johnston (guitar); Ruth Lambert (vocals).

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