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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

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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.
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: 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.

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, November 10, 2019

Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel - Nov.3

Sunday evening - Nov.3
(Review by Russell)

Close on three hundred people had foregone sleep to ensure they caught every last minute of an exhausting but hugely enjoyable festival. Beginning late night Thursday with the annual 'welcome concert', the Classic Jazz Party was about to hear the bell for a thrilling Sunday evening last lap.

Andy Schumm is the nearest living, breathing approximation of Bix Beiderbecke and sought to emulate his hero as he entertained the Classic Jazz Party's audience with a half hour piano Professor set. Yes, Schumm, just like Bix, could play the piano! Bix's men - Arthur Schutt and Frank Signorelli - featured in the set alongside two or three of Schumm's own compositions, one of which, he conceded, wasn't exactly jazz!  

The following set presented by Morten Gunnar Larsen was an ambitious undertaking - Music of the German Weimar Republic. Norwegian Gunnar Larsen is an authority on the period - the years following WWI up to the rise to power of a nondescript Chancellor and subsequent Führer of Germany. Sixty minutes of decadence, Kurt Weill's cabaret of defiance and immaculate playing from all concerned held the audience rapt. 

Pianist Gunnar Larsen teamed up with Claus Jacobi to work on an engrossing programme. Largely downbeat rather than hot, cellist Penny Callow provided pathos sitting alongside fellow north of England star, Emma Fisk, violin. At times trumpeters Mike Davis and Torstein Kubban blew in subdued manner, Richard Pite read Jacobi's transcriptions for tuba and string bass and the usually ebullient Josh Duffee sat respectfully behind the traps reading the dots as Joan Viskant's vocals evoked the period. 

Claus Jacobi directed a brief set looking at Django Reinhardt, Ellington, Benny Carter and others. Guitarists Félix Hunot and Henry Lemaire relished the material as did Spats Langham also playing guitar in an Anglo Saxes vs French Guitars - the saxophones on this occasion being Lars FrankMichael McQuaid, leader Jacobi, David Horniblow and Matthias Seuffert.

The CJP was entering the home straight. 9:30 at night, time to bring on Spats and his Hot Combination. Tom Langham's record collection is probably like no other. The Al Bowlly fan likes Ukulele Ike, he can sing Bing and this set looked at a variety of small combos. Helping Langham were Emma Fisk (the pair often work together on sets), Duke Heitger, the hugely impressive Lars FrankMorten Gunnar Larsen and CJP favourite Malcolm Sked, tuba and string bass.

The big guns were wheeled out for the festival finale. Michael McQuaid led a stupendous farewell surrounded by MazuriéHeitger and Tomasso, trumpets, Alistair Allan and Graham Hughes, trombones, Seuffert and Horniblow the reeds alongside McQuaid, the man from New Orleans David Boeddinghaus, piano, Hunot, banjo and guitar, fellow Frenchman Lemaire on string bass and drummer Richard Pite. Ellington and Cab Calloway featured in McQuaid's Mills Blue Rhythm Band. It swung, it really did. Time to go...to the bar for a Classic Jazz Party jam session finale like no other! 

Sunday Night Pub Jam - would anyone dip out? Nope! Musicians by the score, punters by three score and ten (and more!) made for the bar, bagged a seat, stood at the bar, ready for the jam session to end all jam sessions. American Andy Schumm, cornet, called on his USA buddies Dave Bock, trombone and piano ace Andrew Oliver to get things going at eleven and from there on in the best part of twenty musicians had a blow (the finale numbering at least seventeen!). Lars Frank was there from the off, Phil Rutherford played the first hour on tuba, Nick Ward opened behind the traps and Joan Viskant wowed the packed room. 

The beer flowed, dancers did their thing and one after another the crème de la crème stepped up for a blow. In no particular order, and it's by no means a comprehensive list, the following had a ball - Stéphane Gillot, Torstein Kubban, Michael McQuaid, Matthias Seuffert, Young Talent Award winner Colin Hancock (pictured), Malo Mazuiré, Josh Duffee, Nick Ward, Nick Ball, Martin Wheatley, Graham Hughes, trombone and vocals, David Boeddinghaus, Enrico Tomasso and the fabulous Analucia Tomasso (pictured), vocals. it was 3:00am when it all finally came to an end. Let's do it again next year. The bookings are already coming in! 
Russell     

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