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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 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: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

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

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

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: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong 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: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ 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

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Kurt Rosenwinkel Bandit 65 @ Sage Gateshead - September 28

Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar, electronics); Tim Motzer (guitar, guitar synth, electronics); Gintas Janusonis (drums, percussion, electronics)
(Review by Russell)

Bandit 65 has been described as a 'post-jazz sonic trio'. The box office name is Kurt Rosenwinkel, the guitarist's lower profile co-leaders - Tim Motzer, guitar, Gintas Janusonis, drums - are deserving of equal billing but, hey, this is showbusiness. Other than concert appearances in London this Sage Gateshead performance was Rosenwinkel's first British gig! Considering the guitarist has been active on the jazz (post-jazz?) scene for the best part of thirty years it was a long overdue visit to these shores.
Two sets (2 x 60 mins) with little in the way of interaction with the audience (it was fully forty-five minutes before Rosenwinkel spoke), Bandit 65 created a series of improvised 'electronic landscapes' featuring stunning musicianship from the trio. Post-jazz? The much derided 'prog rock'? One thing is for certain - Kurt Rosenwinkel possesses unparalleled technique. Your correspondent has heard many of the contemporary guitar greats - McLaughlin, Scofield, Di Meola, Lagrène, the list goes on - and none of them could/would put the man from Pennsylvania in the shade. One or two half-decent guitarists were in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall to hear for themselves, it's a fair bet their jaws dropped. Don't give up lads, there's hope yet! 

Rosenwinkel didn't bother to offer titles, suggesting everything they were doing was wholly improvised. Well, yes, but such was the trio's breathtaking precision that it couldn't be other than agreed frameworks were in place. Tim Motzer's electro-acoustic looping wizardry alongside Gintas Janusonis's constantly shifting drum patterns and electronic interventions primed the canvas for Rosenwinkel to apply dashing, daring, spellbinding flourishes.  

A first set blues groove with a samba beat recalled Bandit 65's 2017 album Caipi and second set Rosenwinkel's bluesy solo rode atop Motzer's insistent, soulful, synthesised basslines. As the evening drew to a close Rosenwinkel apologised for not having any hard copy CDs with him but suggested we look out for the band's next release due on October 11 on his own Heartcore label. Rosenwinkel left us with this observation: Everything we do is to meditate on the common good
Russell

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