Total Pageviews

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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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.
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.

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, February 21, 2020

Daniel John Martin With Swing Manouche @ The Globe – February 20

Daniel John Martin (violin, vocals); Mick Shoulder (guitar); Giles Strong (guitar); Paul Susans (bass)
(Review by Ann Alex)

How many sounds can you get from a violin? I think we heard them all last night from the talented Mr Martin and a few more. Besides the melodious alto and soprano sounds that we expect, we had sweet whimpers, vocal sounds, clicks from the dusty end (if a violin has a dusty end), pizzicato with whistling from the player, and breathy notes, with a classical-like cadenza to round off the third tune of the night, just for good measure.

Other unusual features of this very enjoyable evening included dancers from the audience, first a seductive couple dance with pretty arm movements from the lady, then a very different dance from 2 ladies who rarely touched but matched each other’s movements and fitted the band rhythmically. The large audience loved it all.

Readers will know the formula for Hot Club Swing as performed in pre-war French dance halls: violin lead with solos from guitars and violin, with one of the guitars always rhythmically strumming the chords in order. And a welcome bass solo on Charlie Parker's Yardbird Suite added to the talents shown by all the players.

I was multi-tasking - reviewing at the same time as taking the door money ('that's 2 pounds change sir') so I have an excuse for not naming all the tunes, but included were Anniversary Song ('Oh how we danced on the night etc'); Crazy Rhythm (a favourite song of mine about the nature of jazz and probably love); Yardbird Suite and another Parker number then, I'll See You In My Dreams; I Wish You Love; Nuages; A bolero; a French tune, Douce Ambience (duet between violin and guitar); There'll Never be Another You; and 2 other tunes, one happy and one slower which showed just what a violin can do in the right hands.

Oh, I haven't mentioned the singing from our violinist, a pleasant tenor on There'll Never Be Another You and I Wish You Love. An added touch which the audience loved.

My apologies for concentrating on our guest but praise must also be given to Mick Shoulder and his cohorts for making it happen and, of course, their musical contribution which was everything our star could have wished for.
Ann Alex.
PS: From the poster you will note there is still an opportunity to catch him - tomorrow night (Saturday) - at Core Music in Hexham

No comments :

Blog Archive