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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

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.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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 12, 2019

The Bold Big Band @ The Dun Cow - Dec 11

(Review by Russell)

This band does what it says on the tin - BOLD in name, BOLD in performance. Comprising Newcastle University graduates and undergraduates with, on occasion, one or two professionals beefing up the numbers, the Bold Big Band certainly makes a big impression. 

The Dun Cow has previously played host to the band and tonight's gig pulled a large crowd of fellow students there to enjoy the music, the crack and, of course, to sink a few end of term beers.

Manteca blazed a trail. Dizzy Gillespie would have roared his approval, no doubt about it. MD Simon Hirst introduced Bob Florence's Willowcrest as the band's most challenging chart of the evening. It can be reported the orchestra rose to the challenge; superb ensemble work, powerful sections and, a rarity, Jordan Alfonso briefly switching to soprano sax. And still no let up with Gordon Goodwin's Backrow Politics making one hell of a din with the ace trumpet section in Big Phat Band mode.

New band vocalist Ally Wilson couldn't have got off to a better start singing Orange Colored Sky without resorting to lyric sheet, iphone or ipad and, what's more, Ms Wilson made herself heard - no mean achievement standing in front of a band like this! More? Yep, The Lady is a Tramp. We've found ourself a vocalist, let's hear Ally at a jam session. 

Phil Collins is rarely, if ever, mentioned on BSH (!) but we'll make an exception as Jordan Alfonso took Against All Odds by the throat and made something of it in a ballad feature for alto saxophone. The half time whistle came at just the right time...

MD Hirst set about reassembling the orchestra. As usual one or two band members had gone to powder their nose. Who would be a bandleader?! 

Spain seems to be in every big band's pad and here in Brandling Village it was in the Bold Big Band's set. A bravura piece requires the big guns to step up to the plate and Jordan Alfonso and trumpeter Tom Alcorn did just that. Excellent rollercoaster stuff. Lead trumpeter Danny Wilson picked up his flugelhorn for an oh-so-mellow intro to Chuck Mangione's Children of Sanchez before bottom end brass and reeds and top C trumpet mayhem broke loose. Thrilling stuff.

Ally Wilson rejoined the band for a Christmassy finale - Sway (not so Christmassy) then Santa Claus is Comin'  to Town (definitely Christmassy!). The brass boys put the B into BOLD on this one. A Big Band Christmas sent us on our way, some sorely tempted to go carroling. 
Russell
        
Tom Alcorn, Danny Wilson, Thomas, Oli Presland (trumpets); Jordan Alfonso (alto sax, soprano sax), David Johnson (alto sax), Sam Fox (tenor sax), Cristina (tenor sax), ? (baritone sax); Simon Hirst (MD), Bertie Marks, Alex Utting (trombones); Harry Knott (piano); Ifede Osiyemi (bass guitar); Dan (drums), Caleb (drums); Ally Wilson (vocals)   

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