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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival - July 14

(Reviews by Sheila)

The Lemon Monkeys: Matt Smith and Carlos Olmos (guitars). German-Bolivian,
Sunday morning was underway at 11 on the main stage with a jazz guitar duo - a Londoner and a German-Bolivian.  "Guten Dias", and it was a good day. 
Lovely interpretations of jazz standards, swinging and intricate, with a gypsy jazz feel at times. All well received and appreciated by the audience who were enjoying the brighter weather. 

Emma Johnson's Gravy Boat: Emma Johnson sax, Fergus Vickers, guitar, Angus Milne, double bass and Steve Hanley drums. 
On stage Sunday lunchtime (Gravy Boat - get it?!) 
A relaxed, melodic and distinctive style of contemporary jazz, from composer Emma Johnson and the band.  "We had a great time performing at Burton Agnes for the first time and it was amazing to play our music to such a friendly and interested audience" said, Emma. There was a strong rapport both within the band and with the audience, accessible and very popular with the knowledgeable listeners who queued for CDs on sale at the end of the set. 

Catch them at The Globe on 16th November. 
Veronica and Max (Veronica Sbergia and Max De Bernadi from Milan) were next up and quite a contrast. 1920s blues to gospel with washboard and guitar. Very energetic and fun, these multi-instrumentalists, ukeleles and kazoo also part of the mix, and great vocals from Veronica, sometimes in authentic hollerin' style, had the audience laughing and joining in the songs and dancing on the lawn proving that music knows no boundaries of genre or appeal worldwide.

Ben Beattie's After Midnight Band 
Lisanse Changwe (guitar/vocals); Ben Beattie (alto/tenor sax); + drums, bass guitar & Simon Cunliffe-Lister (alto sax).
(Photo courtesy of Charlie Shaw) 

Ben Beattie's After Midnight Band wound up proceedings in the now traditional manner. Joined by Simon Cunliffe-Lister, event organiser, on sax and a 70+ group of dancers and another 100 + seated seeing out the weekend in style.
All the bands who played on the main stage l have reviewed in some detail, but many other musicians covering a wide range of styles within the jazz/blues/folk genre are present and playing on smaller stages in more intimate settings, the splendid Great Hall of the Elizabethan House and the courtyard for example. 

The venue is a delight, the beers are local the food and ice cream ditto, prices are reasonable and quality excellent. Being able to wander around the beautiful grounds, play areas and gardens means it's family-friendly and facilities are plentiful. 

A relaxed, well-organised weekend and congratulations and thanks to all involved. 
The dates are set for next year and l highly recommend getting your tickets early. 
Sheila.

1 comment :

Emma Johnson on Twitter said...

Thanks to Sheila for the lovely review on @bebopspokenhere of our gig at @burtonagneshall
Jazz and Blues Festival.

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