Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 2026)

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

18878 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 742 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 4.) 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

From This Moment On

September.

Mon 07: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 07: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 08: Seijiro Murayama & Jean-Luc Guionnet @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Warwick St., Newcastle, NE2 1BB. 7.00pm. £10.00 (advance); £12.00 (on door); £.15.00 (solidarity).
Tue 08: SH#RP Collective @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 08: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Hartlepool Cricket Club. 7:30pm. £7.00.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 09: NONUNONU @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE. Excellent trio.

Thu 10: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 10: Jacenaite All Crew @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 10: Emma Rawicz INKYRA @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.30. Sage Two. Line-up: Emma Rawicz (sax); Scottie Thompson (piano, keyboards, synth); David Preston (guitar); Kevin Glasgow (bass guitar); Jack Thomas (drums).

Fri 11: Esther Bennett @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £10.00. Esther Bennett (vocals); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass).
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Emma Fisk's Hot Club du Nord @ Sage Gateshead - June 29

Emma Fisk (violin); James Birkett. Dave Harris (guitars); Bruce Rollo (bass).
(Review by Lance/photo courtesy of Russell).

From the opening bars of Honeysuckle Rose to the final J'attendrai the magic unfolded, taking us back to the days when Django and Stéphane were the toast of Paree. Last night, Emma Fisk and her Hot Club du Nord were the toast of 'Gatesheed'. Yes, the well-attended Sage Two audience showed their approval in no uncertain manner - and so they should, it doesn't get much better than this.

Fisk displays amazing control, Emma doesn't play the violin, the violin is as much a part of her as the hand holding the bow or the fingers that move with such dexterity up and down the fingerboard. Total mastery (if that isn't a gender contradiction!)

Flanked by Birkett and Harris thrashing away on their Maccaferri guitars, and Rollo slapping bass with a gentle subtlety this was gypsy jazz/swing at its finest. However, unlike the original where Django soloed and the other two guitarists played rhythm James and Dave alternated solos to offer contrasting sounds. The former, smoother toned whilst still keeping within the spirit of the music, the latter harder, more metallic sounding. Both ace players blending well together.

No surprises in the repertoire, we knew what to expect and we got just that although it was nice to have a reference to Oscar Alemán, the Argentinian guitarist many rated above Django. It was all great stuff but, for me, the absolute standout out number was A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square dedicated by Emma to her late father. A pin drop moment.

As we left I couldn't help but feel a little patronising towards those folk who'd opted for the B52s in Sage One - if they only knew what they'd missed!
Lance.

Honeysuckle Rose; Body & Soul; Dinah; Del Salle; Blue Drag; HCQ Strut; Nuages; Exactly Like You; Sweet Chorus; Coquette; Oriental Shuffle; Swing 42; Ain't Misbehavin'; I'm Confessin'; Viper's Dream; Crazy Rhythm; Minor Swing; A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square; Sweet Georgia Brown; J'attendrai.
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1 comment :

EmmaFiskJazzVio said...

Many thanks for the review Lance - sorry I didn't catch you after the gig! X

Sunday, June 30, 2019 12:05:00 pm

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