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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

Sat 04: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Square, Middlesbrough. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. Xmas party (rescheduled from early December).

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.

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, December 14, 2019

Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - Dec 13

(Review by Russell)

At the last minute BSH Editor-in-Chief LL couldn't make it hence your reviewer being given the nod to come off the subs' bench. Listening to the Strictly Smokin' Big Band at Gosforth is hardly an arduous task! This was the first of two sold out nights, it's been that way for nine consecutive years! 

An evening comprising timeless GASbook numbers, the work of contemporary composers and arrangers, ancient carols and, of course, perennial singalong favourites performed by the Strictly Smokin' should be on everyone's bucket list. 

Winter Games opened the programme. Never in a month of Sundays could anyone have predicted the official anthem of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada would be heard some thirty years later at a big band concert in Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne! Vocalist Alice Grace made an early appearance to sing The Late, Late Show (Ms Grace alluding to Nat Cole's late fifties' recording of the number). We would hear much more of AG during the evening singing Anita O'Day, Ella and more.  

A Bobby Watson chart made its way into the set list and the one member of the orchestra all but guaranteed to take on the alto part just had to be Keith Robinson. KR stood up, from first note to last, the floor was his. The 'jazz heads' in the audience were impressed. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (remember it's Christmas time) featured the mellifluous tones of Pete Tanton's flugelhorn. 

Alice Grace returned to the stage to sing a Chris Walden arrangement of Willow Weep for Me. Phrasing, timing, projecting to all parts of the hall, AG knocked 'em dead. And our adopted Geordie did it again singing Rodgers and Hammerstein's People Will Say We're in Love from Oklahoma! If that had been the sum total of AG's contribution it would have been worthwhile attending but there was more to come, much more.

The SSBB closed a fine first set with two carols - a Dick Stacey feature on O Holy Night (at its end fellow trumpeter Gordon Marshall gave DS a pat on the head!) - and an energetic (if the charts were marked 'con brio' or similar that would be about right) Joy to the World with a crystal clear contribution from guitarist Pawel Jedrzejewski. 

The interval: Brisk sales of the SSBB's new CD Christmas Live Gosforth Civic Theatre (December 2018) suggested loved ones were going to receive a much-appreciated gift in their Christmas stocking. 

Tenor saxophonist Jamie Toms contributed several assured, measured solos during the evening, not least as the band opened the second set with It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. On a Christmas gig it would be understandable if a bandleader tailored the material to the occasion and, of course, MD Michael Lamb did just that, however, Coventry Carol (Steve Summers' committed alto solo) would have satisfied out and out, hardcore jazz fans any time of the year. This was a real highlight among highlights.

Irving Berlin, Alice Grace and Michael Lamb - now there's a winning combination! Yes, a solo blast from MD Lamb on I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm. And then there was AG singing Mel Tormé's Christmas Song (the trumpet section off stage, pianist Graham Don accompanist to Ms Grace). That''ll do, let's go home. No! Wait! MD Lamb was to introduce a surprise guest..

Direct from the London stage, local-lad-made-good, Mr Adam Dutton! Suited and booted, Dutton (resumé inc. Show BoatOliver! and My Fair Lady) joined Alice Grace to sing Frank Loesser's Baby, It's Cold Outside. It's fair to say the place went wild. As AG temporarily left the stage, Dutton, originally from Kenton, Newcastle, revealed this was his first visit to Gosforth Civic Theatre. Singing Caroling, Caroling with the band won the impressive Dutton a whole host of new fans. As our guest left the stage we were left wondering if that was Dutton's last contribution of the evening...

Duke Ellington's arrangement of Jingle Bells (Jamie Toms' tenor sax solo) added lustre to a lustrous occasion. Don't you just love jazz?!

And when the lights were low...Ms Grace and Mr Dutton returned to say goodnight singing Fairytale of New York. Everytime it's a winner. Dutton played his part, Grace hers and the audience couldn't resist singing along. And finally, Ms Grace had the stage to herself to conduct band and audience in a magical Last Christmas. Magical, indeed. 
Russell  
           
Alice Grace (vocals); Steve Summers, Keith Robinson, Jamie Toms, Dave Kerridge, Laurie Rangecroft (reeds); Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey, Michael Lamb MD, Pete Tanton (trumpets); Kieran Parnaby, Mark Ferris, Chris Kurgi-Smith, John Flood (trombones); Graham Don (piano); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Michael Whent (bass guitar); Guy Swinton (drums) + Adam Dutton (vocals).

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