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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

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Jambone & Young Sinfonia @ Sage Gateshead – July 13


(Review by Chris)

A rare outing for the combined forces of the Sage Young Musicians Programme jazz orchestra Jambone, and conventional orchestra, Young Sinfonia, filling the stage of Sage One.  This was part of the culmination of the YMP year – their summer festival - and marked the latest milestone in the remarkable development of Jambone’s director, the composer and arranger extraordinaire, Paul Edis.   With two orchestras (12 strong Jambone, 27 for Sinfonia) packed with talent at his disposal,  Admiral Edis had written or arranged three contrasting pieces to send the fleet on manouevres for an hour or so. Was this to be jazz deluxe, or was it modern orchestral repertoire spiced with “improvisatory” elements, as the Sinfonia’s distinguished conductor, Karin Hendrickson warned the audience?  

Combining jazz (and rock) bands with orchestras has a chequered history, and bolting string sections onto jazz bands can also fall into the Mantovani trap.   Paul, of course, has ample experience avoiding such fails, most recently with the Ed Cross String Quartet added to his own quartet, so expectations were high for the world premiere of his four-movement work Thoughts, Words and Deeds.  From the programme notes, the work “reflects the importance and power of words in the Post-truth age and is inspired by themes of humanity, time, grief, nature and renewed hope”.  This lofty ambition was realised, as we were treated to a compelling and masterful use of a staggering range of texture, dynamics and interplay, ably delivered by first rate and responsive playing throughout every department.  
And there were tunes!  From the off, A Thought Can Split the World in Two took us on a journey bouncing lines expertly between sections and voices, followed by the sombre Too Sad for Words.  

And there was jazz!  Mostly through short but powerful solos, showcased by Hendrickson’s total control of dynamics bringing both bands down to a whisper, as one, sandwiched between full throttle tutti blasts.  

Textural games were played to the max in the third movement, Rain, opening with pitter-patter pizzicato, building to tumultuous thunderclaps generated by three drummers working flat out! The final movement, Time Will Tell, concluded on a more upbeat note, with strong melodic lines beautifully balanced between the Sinfonia sections and Jambone’s individual players.  

Next was a Sound of Music medley – more kitsch pitfalls to be avoided here, as well as the audience's varied expectations to be addressed!  I needn’t have worried, this turned out to be a most engaging romp through the fabulous Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes, but with some delightful jazz twists and turns thrown in to keep it all fresh. Highlights included a startling, gorgeous toned tenor solo by Zak Parlby on My Favorite Things and a fluid bop guitar solo by Tom Henerey (off to Birmingham next year).  The drama was ramped up with a double-time swing section,  driven by sure-footed double bass lines from Alex Shipsey – I won’t forget the concentration etched on his face in a hurry!  

But the star of this part of the show was Jambone’s vocalist, Emily McDermott.  She had the unenviable task of not only taking on Julie Andrews’ role, but bringing something new to the party.  Her understated approach lends itself well to the moody and poetic style of much of Jambone’s repertoire, including Thoughts, Words and Deeds.  It wasn’t clear how she would do the blockbuster stuff, but boy did she pull it off!  With crystal clear tone and diction, matched by effortless range, she not only convinced as she climbed every mountain, but brought humour and new twists and character to the old lyrics.   

The evening finished with Apologies to Brahms, another romp, re-interpreting his Hungarian Dance, complete with over the top chorus line “big kicks” treatment!

Altogether, a mind-blowing showcase of not only top class playing, conducting and interpretation, but also of imaginative writing and ingenious, challenging arrangements from Paul Edis, delivering his latest, largest project to date. It is truly baffling how he has the time and energy to do everything he does, to the standard he does.   My only complaint about the evening was that the audience wasn’t bigger so that more people could enjoy the (free!) show, and the players and directors could get the wider exposure they deserve.

Chris Kilsby

Images © Sage Youth Music Programme twitter feed.

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