Total Pageviews

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

18043 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 364 of them this year alone and, so far, 42 this month (May 15).

From This Moment On ...

MAY 2025

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: Bellavana @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30-10:00pm. Free. A Late Shows event.
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). b Wed 21: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 22: Nuevo Castillo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00.
Thu 22: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:30-9:15pm. Free.
Thu 22: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. 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

Wednesday, May 08, 2019

Jazz North Selects Seven Bands For Seventh Round Of Northern Line


(Press release)

Since 2013, Jazz North’s northern line has supported 67 jazz artists and ensembles from across the north with over 700 gigs. Now, seven more northern-based ensembles have been selected to join the scheme. Beyond Albedo, freesetrio, John Pope Quintet, Nishla Smith Quintet, Not Now Charlie, Rafe’s Dilemma and SogoRock will have the chance to benefit from the initiative.

The scheme enables the artists to reach new audiences and tour beyond their home area, which Nishla Smith from the Manchester-based Nishla Smith Quintet sees as a great opportunity: “Becoming a northern line artist is really amazing and helpful for us because my band is fairly new and we’re trying to make inroads and develop out of Manchester. It’s really exciting to have that opportunity to tour and make new connections and spread out over the north.”

Jazz North’s northern line Project Manager, Lucy Woolley, says the bands were selected by an independent panel of industry professionals, promoters and musicians: “They were chosen as they represent the variety of high-quality, new and exciting music being made by fantastic artists and performed in the north of England.” Previously there have been nine bands chosen for the programme per year, but this time it will be seven. “A smaller roster of seven artists allows us to work more closely on artist development and business skills, alongside their touring activity,” explains Lucy. “This will create a legacy that will support these young artists throughout their future musical careers.”

Jazz North’s northern line is the organisation’s flagship programme that supports jazz artists through subsidised touring, mentoring and industry support. All round seven bands can expect subsidised gig performances at festivals and in venues, minimising financial risk. All artists will perform at Jazz North’s northern line Showcase Day at Lancaster Jazz Festival on Friday 13th September 2019 in front of national and international jazz promoters. A promotional pack of each ensemble will be produced and one-to-one mentoring with Jazz North is on offer to identify individual areas of support.
·         Jazz North’s northern line Round Seven Artists
Beyond Albedo (Leeds/Sheffield)
Lara Jones saxophones, FX pedals / Tim Knowles electric guitar, bass guitar, FX pedals / Ben Gaunt synths / Sarah Heneghan drums, drum machine
Retro-futuristic synth-jazz drawing on jazz traditions yet pushing in new exploratory and experimental directions: moments of East-West fusion and Afro-spiritualism give way to pulsating sci-fi electronica with an energetic and danceable quality.

freesetrio (Leeds)
Jemma Freese voice, keyboards / Chris Sellers bass / Theo Goss drums
Heavy triphop dark jazz with twisted lyrics, sliding vocals and eerie harmonies making for a powerful, dark and layered sound. Dealing with subjects such as self-reflection, inner demons and truths, the band creates a trance-like atmosphere influenced by Massive Attack, Goldfrapp and Aphex Twin.

John Pope Quintet (Newcastle/Manchester)
John Pope double bass / Jamie Stockbridge alto saxophone / Faye MacCalman clarinet, tenor saxophone / Graham Hardy trumpet / Johnny Hunter drums
Drawing on ‘60s avant-jazz and hard bop, but with a modern, European sensibility, their open-hearted, quirky compositions and dynamic, ‘anything-goes’ improvisations are played with swinging groove, referencing Ornette Coleman, Tom Waits, and The Pixies: a joyful racket full of rewards for the adventurous listener.

Nishla Smith Quintet (Manchester)
Nishla Smith vocals / Aaron Wood trumpet / Richard Jones piano / Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley bass / Johnny Hunter drums
Nishla’s original songs have a delicate, quirky but deceptively simple air about them – she has a quietly commanding presence and a relaxed but assured delivery that wins over audiences instantly. Her often dreamy and melancholic aura is offset with her energetic and imaginative band of Manchester’s finest young contemporary improvisers.

Not Now Charlie (Newcastle)
Jamie Toms saxophone / Pawel Jedrzejewski guitar / Richard Campbell piano / Ian Paterson bass / Mark Johnson drums
A fast-rising young band playing in a variety of styles directly connected to their inspirations: traditional jazz, prog rock, neo-soul, R&B and folk – memorable melodies, infectious grooves and a keen, finely-tuned sense of tight ensemble playing.

Rafe’s Dilemma (Leeds)
Eleanor Begley vocals, loops / Jamil Sheriff keyboards / Sam Vicary bass guitar / Katie Patterson drums
Commissioned for Bolton Worktown Festival to celebrate Bill Naughton’s play Spring and Port Wine, Rafe’s Dilemma mixes jazz, electronica and rock to tell the story of a family on the edge. Using spoken word, improvisation, synthesised soundscapes and carefully crafted songs, the material explores our emotions towards families through music, with an electric perspective.

SogoRock (Leeds)
Ferenc Lakatos synth / Matt Hines saxophone / Nik Svarc guitar / Bela Horvath piano, keyboards / Alexander Miller bass / Joshua Gumbs drums
Led by resident Hungarians Bela and ‘Laky Franz’ with their fellow LCoM alumni, SogoRock (meaning ‘brother-in-law’) resists classification: the band blends elements of jazz, fusion, funk, rock and gospel along with the musical heritage of each player with an open spirit and impeccable musicianship.

·         Jazz North is the jazz development agency in the north of England funded by Arts Council England as a sector support organisation. Established in 2012, it has a ground-breaking approach to supporting and nurturing jazz across the north. Jazz North uses the power of collective partnership working to build networks between musicians, educators, promoters and venues, to grow audiences for jazz and to inspire children and young people to make music: www.jazznorth.org
·         Jazz North’s northern line project supports and develops a roster of artists by:
o   encouraging regional promoters and new/rural promoters to take risks by programming northern line ensembles
o   absorbing some of those risks by subsidising the cost of artists’ fees
o   offering professional development opportunities
o   strengthening and extending the northern touring circuit
o   providing a shop-window for the music, artists, promoters, the northern jazz scene and Jazz North
o   presenting a day-long showcase at Lancaster Jazz Festival 2019 at which all selected ensembles perform to the public and invited promoters
o   filming/recording every showcase performance for the artists’ showreels
o   offering artist photo-shoots and interviews for each band
·         Lancaster Jazz Festival is an artist and volunteer-led organisation that is now in its ninth year. It aims to promote contemporary and pioneering music from around the UK in beautiful spaces and stages around the city of Lancaster at an annual September festival and at selected year-round events. The team, backed up by the festival's members, work year-round with local arts organisations to help emerging and developing artists, to promote contemporary music, and to support music and jazz education. Lancaster Jazz Festival is supported using public funding by Arts Council England and is a Help Musicians' UK National Grant Programme Recipient: www.lancasterjazz.com
·         The attached image is of Jazz North’s northern line Round Seven Artists

No comments :

Blog Archive