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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

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: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
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.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ 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

Saturday, November 09, 2019

Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel - Nov.2

Saturday evening - Nov.2
(Review by Russell)

The second of this year's three half hour Professor spots featured Andrew Oliver. The man from Oregon, USA first came to the attention of BSH more than four years ago when the pianist visited Newcastle's Jazz Cafe leading the Kora Band. That was very much a contemporary outfit, here at the CJP Oliver fully immersed himself in the jazz of the twenties and thirties. Stride, ragtime, Jelly Roll Morton a current obsession, Oliver, soon to return to the States after several years domiciled in London, gave a brilliant, robust barrelhouse display. 

Bands within the Bands gave Richard Pite licence to roam across the 'classic jazz' era landscape picking and choosing material from a vast number of small combos led by big band leaders. Assisting the Cadogan Hall jazz concert series' mastermind were Duke Heitger, trumpet, the reeds of David Horniblow and Matthias Seuffert, the fine trombonist Alistair Allan, the ever-elegant Martin Litton, piano and Frenchmen Félix Hunot, guitar/banjo and Henry Lemaire, string bass.

Joan Viskant is a welcome presence at any Classic Jazz Party and this year's edition found her leading a swift half hour set titled Joan Viskant - The Chicago Songbird. Ms Viskant was indeed born in Illinois' Windy City, relocated to Paris before settling in London. Praise from the likes of Benny Carter and Frank Sinatra suggests JV has what it takes and she has. Flapper, vamp, Viskant plays the part. Saucy, sassy numbers featured with our singer guided through the speakeasies and gin joints from West Allotment to downtown Chicago by an A-list band including Malo Mazurié, trumpet, Claus Jacobi, reeds and pianist Martin Litton

London's Bright Sparks were active during the 20s and 30s. Martin Wheatley prepared arrangements for a five piece outfit comprising Michael McQuaid, reeds (equally accomplished on clarinet or saxophone), Morten Gunnar Larsen, piano, Josh Duffee playing xylophone and vocals of the debonaire kind by Spats Langham.

Hits of McKinney's Cotton Pickers required no fewer than fourteen musicians to handle Claus Jacobi's set of Don Redman's arrangements which ushered in the swing era. Malo Mazurié and Enrico Tomasso took on the trumpet parts, Bixian Andy Schumm played cornet, Brit Graham Hughes and American CJP debutant Dave Bock shared 'bone duties, David Boeddinghaus played piano and, following a quick costume change, Ms Joan Viskant returned to help swing that music. 

It turned eleven o'clock, the bar was open, Saturday evening's Pub Jam session was about to begin. Four hours later it was time for bed.          
Russell
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