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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

17985(and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 306 of them this year alone and, so far, 62 this month (April 26).

From This Moment On ...

MAY 2025

Tue 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. 12:30pm. £14.00. Tel: 0191 237 3697. ‘Victory in Europe Afternoon Tea’ (VE Day 80th anniversary).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: FILM: Whiplash @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 8:15pm.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.b Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 08: Final Recital: Jay Straughan (drums) @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 10:00am. Free.
Thu 08: Final Recital: Olly Styles (saxophone) @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 3:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Jason Holcomb @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £5.00. (unreserved seating). VE Day 80th Anniversary Concert. Multi-bill inc. Jason Holcomb ensemble.
Thu 08: Curtis Stigers @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Fri 09: Bridget Metcalfe Trio @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 09: Milne Glendinning Band @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Funk Soul Sista @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Crooners @ The Maltings, Berwick. 7:30pm.

Sat 10: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 10: Paul Edis & Friends @ Musicwonders, Church Chare, Chester-le-Street. 7:00pm (6:30pm). £15.00. All proceeds to Musicwonders’ community projects. Bar available. SOLD OUT!
Sat 10: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 10: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 10: David Newton @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 10: Robben Ford @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. Ex-Miles Davis, blues rock.
Sat 10: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Darling Dollies @ St Martin’s Church, Byker, Newcastle NE6 2JR. 4:00pm. £8.00.; £4.00. 10 years & under. ‘A Concert for VE Day’ (80th anniversary commemorative concert). Vocal harmonies + St Martin’s Choir + solo performances.
Sun 11: Sekoya @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 11: Bill Laurance Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Gregory Porter + Jo Harrop @ Newcastle City Hall. 7:30pm. Support act: Jo Harrop!

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

Thursday, December 05, 2019

CD Review: Accent - Christmas All the way

If you have a soft spot for the Four Freshman, the Hi-Los and the other close harmony groups of  the pre Beatles' era (harmony? wtf is that?) then this is as good as anything you're going to get to usher in your guests on Christmas Day.

The harmonies are superb and Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band provides the backing on a couple of tracks, Arturo Sandoval lends his mighty chops to Let It Snow and there are others who contribute to make this as good as any of the seasonal offerings we are already being bombarded with.

I've warned the neighbourhood kids that, if they come-a-carolling at my door on Christmas Eve I want more than the first line of Good King Wenceslas before I cross their palms with copper.

However, if Accent were to knock on my door I'd mortgage the house (well maybe the east wing aka the shed) to hear them.

Without doubt, this year's Christmas cracker.
Lance
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