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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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

Friday, December 13, 2019

DUBB's Jazzy Xmas @ Durham Students' Union - Dec 12

(Review by Russell)

The seventh edition of Durham University Big Band's annual Christmas bash followed a familiar pattern - 1) Durham Students' Union Riverside Bar and Cafe was packed to the rafters with demob happy students drinking a 'Big Band Cocktail' (£3.50.), 2) DUBB (that's the big band) resplendent in an assortment of Xmas jumpers, similarly delighted with the arrival of end of term, 3) a set list of swinging big band charts and seasonal favourites.

Speaking of seasonal favourites...Santa Claus is Comin' to Town opened the show with one of DUBB's vocalists - Rob Singleton - eager to exercise the tonsils. Ailing band MD, trumpeter Honor Hornsby (chest infection) confined herself to playing section lead and technical troubleshooter leaving MC duties to trombonist Tommy Wise. Bemsha Swing featured solo contributions from former Early Bird pianist Ben Lawrence (a real asset to DUBB 2019-20), alto saxophonist Alex Howard-Vyse and trumpeter Jesse Turnock. 

Drinks were being consumed - some spilled, it was that kind of occasion! - at a rate of knots as the band's other singer, Ms Evie Hill, sang Let it Snow Let it Snow Let it Snow. Vocalists warmed up, Singleton led the partying crowd into a Winter Wonderland (arr Callum Au, the same arrangement favoured by the Strictly Smokin' Big Band) with smart section work by the five reeds. Hill returned to sing J Dilla's Fall in Love (more from Howard-Vyse, alto) before the band closed an enjoyable first set with something a little more conventional - Just Friends (solos from Lawrence, the impressive Chris Chung, trombone, and Matt Bartlett, tenor sax). 

Gordon Goodwin's arrangement of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen resumed matters. Chung (trombone) and James Petley (tenor sax) dug into Radiohead's 15 Step as did pianist Lawrence - good stuff! MD Honor Hornsby blew flugel on Always and Forever - a fine effort under the circumstances (our soloist not feeling 100% and performing to a room full of potentially distracting partying students). Robert Glasper's Ah Yeah arranged by 2019 graduate Zach Fox found favour with Durham's Bright Young Things then it was almost time to pack up and head to the bar but not before Singleton and Hill sang one more number - Frank Loesser's Baby, It's Cold Outside, yes, it was party time alright! 

One more, Bob Curnow's arrangement of the phenomenally successful Riverdance put drummer Michael Young in the spotlight and 'Mikey' duly produced an impressive display. Wait! You can't go to the bar yet! An encore was called for and won. Buddy Rich, Love for Sale from Big Swing Face, an excellent choice to end Michaelmas term and, as Tommy Wise informed us, DUBB wished a fond farewell to the band's excellent guitarist Tom Burgess who is moving on to pastures new. Alright, let's hit the bar!             
          
Honor Hornsby, Catherine Flanders, Dominic Purefoy, Jesse Turnock (trumpets); Alex Howard-Vyse (alto sax), Caroline Derrett (alto sax), Matt Bartlett (tenor sax), James Petley (tenor sax), Alex Wardill (baritone sax); Tommy Wise, Chris Chung, Peter Fewster, Dylan Morris (trombones); Tom Burgess (guitar); Ben Lawrence (piano); Isaac Merchant (bass guitar); Michael Young (drums); Rob Singleton (vocals), Evie Hill (vocals)  

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