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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 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: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ 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: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

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

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

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: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong 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: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

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

Friday, June 21, 2019

Alice Grace Trio @ Bishop Auckland Town Hall - June 21

Alice Grace (vocals); James Harrison (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass)
(Review by Russell)

At one o'clock, with no sign of Alice Grace, Messrs Harrison and Grainger opened the show with a diverting Take the A Train. Would it be a duo gig? One eye on the door, would our star vocalist make it in time? Strolling in, cool as a cucumber, Ms Grace didn't pause for breath as she picked up the verse, the boys didn't blink, was this a cool entrance or what?!

Verse, chorus, scat, Alice Grace is the tops when it comes to GASbook material. A light yet commanding vocal style, Ms Grace chose a fabulous selection of numbers to sing - one or two of them usually performed with the mighty Strictly Smokin' Big Band behind her - in the company of friends James Harrison, piano, and bassist Paul Grainger. 
Our singer's distinctive, pitch-perfect vocals, lyric-scat-lyric sustained in the upper register, descending at will, Harrison's lightning response at the keyboard, Grainger in cruise mode - put this Bishop Auckland Town Hall gig down as a vocal masterclass. 

The big band numbers - The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else and You Turned the Tables on Me (the latter featuring Grainger's bass playing) - allowed AG to stretch out a little, free of the strictures of the big band chart. 

The ever-inventive Harrison conjured images of the caravanserai with a nod to Sweet Georgia Brown along the way on Juan Tizol's Caravan. As the one hour set drew to a close Ms Grace asked the audience what it would like to hear - Weaver of Dreams sent us on our way.

The setlist; A TrainThe One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else, One Note Samba (Abbie Finn on shaker!), Moonlight Saving Time,  You Turned the Tables on MeCaravanTeach Me TonightTaking a Chance on Love, Weaver of Dreams

Next month at BATH, Friday July 19 - John Settle's Vibe-ology. 1:00pm. £5.00. 
Russell

1 comment :

Patti said...

Awwww - I knew this was going to be a fabulous gig - but needs must, and I had to be elsewhere. Shame, shame, shame - but how lucky we are in this corner of Ingerland, to have such wonderful, top class jazzers as Alice, James and Paul. And to think Alice sang two of my all time favourite songs ..... oh well, some other time - and there's another one!

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