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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17755 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 76 of them this year alone and, so far, 1 this month (Feb.1).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 08: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 08: Anth Purdy @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. ‘Swing Jazz Guitar’.
Sat 08: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra event. All welcome.

Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

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, August 15, 2019

CD Review: Quentin Collins - Road Warrior

Quentin Collins (trumpet/flugelhorn); Meilana Gillard (alto sax); Leo Richardson (tenor sax); Dan Nimmer (piano/Rhodes on track 4); Joe Sanders (bass); Willie Jones III (drums) + Jean Toussaint (tenor sax - 2 tracks).
(Review by Lance).

They don't come any better than this! It's Jazz Messenger territory but these jazz posties aren't walkin' the streets they're running, they're flying - this isn't snail mail it's superfast broadband and what a band!

I've only just recovered from hearing Leo Richardson live at Pizza last week and here he is again but who's complaining? Not me that's for sure.

Richardson is, as always, on fire and, with trumpet ace Collins alongside him the pair take us on the road for a great adventure. But wait, let us not forget that there are three seats at the front and the third one was due to be occupied by Tom Harrison on alto. Tom however, had to pull out through injury and although he was able to act as assistant producer to Jean Toussaint (who also made his presence felt playing tenor on a couple of tracks) Tom had to miss-out playing on the album.

With only four days to go before the red light appeared above the studio door up stepped Meilana Gillard.

Where have you been all my life Meilana? Superb alto playing I was hooked from the opening number. Coupled with her fellow frontliners and an all American rhythm section this is a band to be reckoned with at any level anywhere. And, as if that wasn't enough, add former Messenger Toussaint and the blue touchpaper has been well and truly lit!

The good news is that after the launch at Pizza on Sept. 3 and a gig in Paris the following day they hit the road, albeit with a homegrown rhythm section, and roam the land reaching such northerly parts as Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds and York (Oct. 28) before turning tail and finishing up in Cardiff the following day.
Ah well...
Lance
Release date Sept. 13 on Ubuntu  Music - UBU0027.

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