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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

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Bradley Johnston Quartet @ The Lit & Phil – July 12.

Keith Robinson (reeds); Bradley Johnston (guitar); Paul Grainger (bass); Russ Morgan (drums),
(Review/photos courtesy of Brian Ebbatson)

Publicity for this gig from guitarist Bradley Johnston promised “a musical journey that explores guitar playing over the last 100 years”, but it was a much more personal selection of pieces, mainly by Bradley himself – four out of six of the tunes featured were from his pen – although there was certainly a strong element of paying tribute to his influences.

Bradley opened solo with his arrangement of John Lennon’s In My Life, a dreamy interpretation very reminiscent of Bill Frisell – indeed it features on Frisell’s 2011 album All We Are Saying. Bradley wove his way with synth-like chords through and around the George Harrison intro and the Lennon melody. Maybe it was a 70’s Beatles number but this was definitely a second-decade C21 interpretation.

The band came in for For Joe, the first of four consecutive Johnston compositions, a guitar and sax-led hard-bop theme, which upped the tempo of the concert. Then followed the sweeping sax intro of The Awakening, Russ punctuating on drums and cymbals, Paul holding the rhythm, Keith taking flight on his horn and intricate guitar work from Bradley.

Django’s Footsteps took us into the familiar territory of Brad’s apprenticeship with James Birkett, a jaunty typical Reinhardt rhythm, with Keith on Hubert Rostaing style clarinet. James’ Waltz, (Bradley’s first composition, he said,) familiar to many from Brad and James’ 2014 CD Together, a gentle melody, giving Brad the opportunity to demonstrate his sensitive guitar style.

Douce Ambience, an up-tempo Grappelli – Reinhardt composition, with Keith on clarinet again, followed by Bradley’s tribute to another guitar master, For Frisell.

Keith stood down while Brad led on a beautiful folky melody, Russ on brushes and Paul’s bass in complete empathy behind him.

For Presence – another Brad composition – Keith and Bradley played the theme before the guitar gently segued seamlessly into A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, which brought us to a short finale with Limehouse Blues for the band to sign off with a flourish, greeted by appreciative applause from the near-capacity Lit & Phil audience. Bradley told me this was only the band’s third outing with this material. It certainly has potential and this audience would certainly have stayed for more.

Hopefully other venues will extend an invitation; with more exposure the possibilities are limitless.
Brian E.

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