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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The James Harrison Playhouse Band @ Dormans Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - August 22


James Harrison (keys/accordion); Alice Grace (vocals); Will Howard (tenor sax/clarinet); Keith Peberdy (bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
(Review by Ron H)

Back in 2010, Tees Hot Club organised a jazz night at Dormans Club in Middlesbrough – they hoped it would catch on. Now, nine years on and approximately 450 sessions later, the general consensus of opinion is that it has ‘caught on’!

The audience that crowded the room for a special celebratory night certainly thought so as they were treated to a fantastic night of music and entertainment.

Starting the evening with an up tempo version of  Secret Love, Alice showed her fine vocal talent, with great solos from James and Will backed by Russ and Keith setting the standard for the night. 

A more relaxed Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, followed, again with Alice's lovely singing blending in with fine musicianship before moving up a notch to a swinging  Blue Skies.

An exciting Latin number Mambo Inn, featured Russ, showing his great skills on drums. James and Alice performed Honeysuckle Rose, as a duo to great effect.

Alice, singing the classic Georgia on my Mind, with a lovely tenor solo from Will and keyboard work from James, went down well before the band followed with a swinging Bye Bye Blackbird, and a great bass solo from Keith.

The first set was brought to a close in cabaret style with  Bei Mir Bist Du Schon, great showmanship from James on accordion, Will on tenor and Alice's singing.

Shiny Stockings, featuring Alice (Ella style) and Will on tenor started the second set then James played a dramatic and rousing version of Caravan, with great sax and vocals.

Blossom Dearie's Moonlight Saving Time, and Wonderful World, contrasted with the great gypsy jazz anthem Dark Eyes, featuring James, again,  on accordion and Will on clarinet.

I Can't Give You Anything But Love, was played and sung in fine style after which the audience demanded an encore that resulted in some fine scat work from Alice including mimicking trumpet and trombone with the band playing Parker's swinging  Billie's Bounce, that seemed to evolve into Monk's Well You Needn't, (I think?).

This was an excellent night of entertainment from first class jazz musicians with one of the best Ella Fitzgerald influenced singers around to celebrate our nine years of jazz events at Dormans  with the aptly named Playhouse Band. 

Again, many thanks to the generous support for all these years given to us from Dormans Club.
 Ron H
YouTube link from James Nesbitt - Secret Love.

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