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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ 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

Monday, September 23, 2019

Rick Laughlin's Electet @ Dormans Jazz Club,Middlesbrough - September 19.

Rick Laughlin (keys); Ian Halford (kit); Phil Laughlin (bass); Dan Johnson (tenor sax); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Alan Thompson (soprano sax). 
(Review by Ron H)

Playing for the first time at Dormans Jazz Club, Electet soon showed the large audience that we were in for an exciting night of  funky fusion style jazz.

Starting the first set with Shuffled, a bouncy/bluesy number featuring all four saxes, followed by Two Mules, a fusion style composition featuring Dan Johnson and Josh Bentham, set the standard for the night.

Yellow Fever with a haunting opening by Alan Thompson on soprano, a funky feature for Rick & Sue Ferris during which they encountered a variety of time signatures.

Sands of Time was a slow but powerful feature for Rick and Josh on  with a huge ending featuring  Dan.

PB82 a medium tempo funky feature for Josh with the mesmerising undercurrent of Phil on bass and a kit solo by Ian Halford to take it out.

The first set was brought to a close  by another great number Con Hielo featuring everyone with Sue and Dan swapping tenor solos, a rapid 3/4 Latin, possibly inspired by Chick Corea.

The second set opened with Scam a foot tapping big band style/bluesy number featuring all the saxes and Rick.

Funk 2 Opened with funky slap on bass, intricate horn solo sections, a keys/tenor (Dan) feature and a rousing drum solo to end.

Storm a haunting ballad featured Alan on soprano demonstrating the seemingly infinite range of the instrument.

Where's Vincent? a swinging 3/4 featured Josh and Rick.

Point & Click was a straight forward funky vehicle for everyone to go wild with.

I Dunno Joe  funky with lots of tight ensemble work and solos for Rick, Alan and Dan.

Smarten - an up tempo swinger where everyone got a chance to blow.

Reverse Spin was kicked off with  funky bass then solos  by Rick and Sue, followed by all four saxes throwing out some lines to build up to the ending.

An encore of the band's version of Blue Bossa brought this wonderful night to a close.

A tremendous night  of top class musicians playing, apart from the encore, original compositions by Rick and so tightly held together by the musicians skill and enthusiasm. This band's line up worked so well.

Another successful night for Dormans Jazz Club with our usual thanks going to Dormans Club for their kind support.
Ron H.

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