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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

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.

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.

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, January 31, 2020

Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle - Jan 30

(Review by Russell)

A first public rehearsal/concert performance of 2020 by the mighty Strictly Smokin' Big Band. All reported for duty with the exception of long serving baritone saxophonist Laurie Rangecroft who was, perhaps, on a mid-winter sunshine break and his dep on the big beast of the reeds stepped out of the Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra, a more than able sub, welcome Brian Wicks.

Your correspondent's first scribbled note...BANG! Straight out of the (Buddy Rich) traps with Big Swing Face. This evening Michael Lamb's outfit certainly lived up to its name...Smokin'! No time to lose on a session like this, welcome back Alice Grace to sing All the Things You Are

Killer trumpets on the Lennie Niehaus arrangement of Cole Porter's I Love Paris for the Kenton band - once again...Smokin'! In six weeks or so the SSBB will be linking up with NYC's Danny Jonokuchi for a one off gig at Flat Caps Coffee and in advance of the occasion the band and Alice Grace took another look at the New Yorker's arrangement of The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else. If this one is in the set list in March just imagine Jonokuchi's reaction as Alice and the boys take it apart! The prospect of it being an 'I was there' occasion? You bet! Book your tickets now at www.strictly-smokin.co.uk

One or two musos in tonight's audience were on a busman's holiday there to enjoy themselves with a pint or two listening to a fantastic outfit. The Bridge Hotel's beers this evening included a new favourite - the Bad Seed Brewery's Light Cluster (4.3%), unfined, unfiltered. 

Earlier Buddy Rich blew the place apart and to start the second set who better to do the same than Gordon Goodwin? Count Bubba tore it up with feature solos from Jamie Toms, Pete Tanton and Dave Kerridge. Alice took a trip on Route 66 going here, there and everywhere. Our star vocalist stayed on to sing You Turned the Tables on Me (arr. D. Jonokuchi). 

It was just about time to go but not before Alice and Jamie Toms sang and blew tenor respectively on Mean to Me and MD Michael Lamb had a blast on Alice's final number of the evening I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

The SSBB's 2020 events include not only the visit of Danny Jonokuchi but an eagerly anticipated concert at Sage Gateshead with Mike Lovatt (it's looking like a sell out on Feb 29 - book now!). The trumpeter boasts an impressive CV - John Wilson Orchestra, BBC Big Band and countless film and television sessions including the rather popular Bond movies. Nice work if you (are good enough and) can get it and Mike Lovatt is just that. Later in the year there is the second edition of the recently resurrected Newcastle Jazz Festival to look forward to but, between now and then, you can hear the band at the Bridge, Hoochie Coochie and elsewhere. Details as and when right here on BSH.  
   
Strictly Smokin' Big Band: Michael Lamb MD, Pete Tanton, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey (trumpets); Mark Ferris, Kieran Parnaby, Chris Kurgi-Smith, John Flood (trombones), Jamie Toms, Dave Kerridge, Keith Robinson, Steve Summers, Brian Wicks (reeds); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Graham Don (piano); Michael Whent (bass guitar); Guy Swinton (drums); Alice Grace (vocals)
 Russell

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