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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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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

Thursday, July 04, 2019

Jam Session @ the Dun Cow, Jesmond - July 3

Dean Stockdale (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Matt MacKellar (drums) + Ray Johnson (trumpet/flugelhorn); Jordan Alfonso (tenor sax); Charles Harrison, Laurence Harrison (guitars); Jan Spencelayh, Mel Grundy (vocals).
(Review/photos by Lance).

For some time now the fortnightly jam sessions at the Black Swan have been unchallenged in terms of quality with the Dun Cow in Jesmond running a distant second. However, since opting to go monthly things at the latter venue have picked up and, on the strength of last night, jazzwise it could be said to have held its own.

Both sessions are organised by Paul Grainger and most of the same musicians are involved but, as is often the case there are always the unexpected visitors eager to display their talents (or lack of).

The latest new arrivals came in the form of the brothers Harrison, both guitarists, who made their mark in no uncertain terms. Charles Harrison, a South Shields guitar teacher, last showed at the Jazz Café back in the Pete Gilligan era (May 17, 2016) whilst bro Laurance has been plying his trade in London. Charles played the jammers' favourite, the tune the aforementioned Gilligan would refer to as Stella by Artois. and Someday My Prince Will Come.

Laurance had a blast on Solar and maybe something else - I was so knocked out by the notes I didn't take notes - before teaming up with a couple of the other big hitters - Ray Johnson and Jordan Alfonso for I Got Rhythm. Ray had played trumpet on There's a Small Hotel and Alfie's Theme but switched to flugel for this one whilst Jordan had left his alto at home to blow some gutsy tenor on Black Coffee and Girl From Ipanema, two numbers more associated with vocalists.

Speaking of vocalists, Mel confessed she'd been ill (she missed her last gig at the Globe) and was using this as a fitness test - she passed! You'd be so Nice to Come Home To and I Didn't Know What Time it Was were the chosen arias.

Jan sounded really good on Teach me Tonight and Orange Colored Sky then, on the grand finale with all the cats joining in, My Baby Just Cares For Me, updating the lyrics to include Beyoncé and Julia Roberts for those of us too young to remember Liz Taylor and Lana Turner.

Special mention for the unsung heroes of the evening - the house trio who'd got the ball rolling with My Romance and The Nearness of You. The Hoagy tune featured Matt on an extended drum solo - not quite what you expect on a romantic ballad but, hey ho, that's jazz - the sound of surprise! Throughout they covered whatever was thrown at them and did it just perfectly - maybe more so!

Another malfunctioning Metro system (both coming and going) did nothing to detract from a most enjoyable evening.
Lance.

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