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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 23: 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

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Jam Session @ The Black Swan - Feb. 11

(Review/photos by Lance).

Another evening of infinite variety that had no shortage of big hitters. 

It all began rather low key, albeit with some tasteful playing by the house trio, with Bradley setting the bar for the other guitarists present to aim at. A Jobim bossa, Travels - a tribute to Lyle Mays who'd died the previous day - and a bouncy bop number set the scene for Harry Keeble who, after an extended intro by the trio, went into 'S Wonderful before being joined by the tightly muted Ed for Days of Wine and Roses. Interesting contrast, Harry leaves no note unplayed whilst Ed leaves quite a few of them untouched.

One guy who explores the full range of his instrument is trombonist Showtime Gray. In the absence of Ray Burns, David was a shoo in to take the catwalk prize on the strength of his trousers, boots and woolly hat. His Bésame Mucho was as earcatching as his attire was eyecatching.

Harry returned to join him in the front line, Abbie took over the kit and guitarist Laurence  replaced Brad. Maiden Voyage and then Impressions were the test pieces and it was on the latter number that the joint began to jump. Harry blew one of his "Follow that" solos passing the ball to Ed who, in fairness didn't try to but opted for a more economical approach that, at times, was almost verging on the avant garde. Economical is rarely a part of Showtime's vocabulary and he fought fire with fire without getting burned.

Time for a break and a Tyneside Blonde (a beer) before the first of the singers took the mic. Irene Birkett gave us Love me or Leave me and I Can't Get Started. This may have been her Black Swan debut and I think she was, perhaps, a shade nervous. 

Jan is a tried and tested performer and, with able assists from Jordan on alto and Alan Law on piano, sang You Turned the Tables on me - such a great lyric by Sidney D.Mitchell* - and Cheek to Cheek.

The stakes were being raised. Andy Lawrenson unpacked his fiddle, Steve Summers saddled up his tenor and a drummer named Tom picked up the sticks.

It Had to be You had a nice Grappellian swing to it whilst St. Thomas saw all of the A-listers going for it with possibly the combativity prize going to Jordan for his blistering alto solo. They thought it was all over - Tom didn't! The drummer took a chorus or three before bringing le tout ensemble back for the ride out.

All this excitement was just too much to handle and it had to be calmed down before someone got hurt! 

Enter James Birkett and  Laurence Harrison. Ah ha, I thought, a guitar duet - I was only half right - James, husband of Irene and former tutor of Bradley had 6 strings at his disposal but Lawrence, who earlier had impressed in a variety of settings now had 88 at his finger tips (at least he would have had had it been a steam piano he was now sitting at). Yes the guitar man was now a piano man and the rest will go down in Black Swan fokelore. 

Polka Dots and Moonbeams brought conversation to a standstill as the impromptu duo silenced the room with the sheer magic of their playing and the instant empathy that only happens when Jupiter aligns with Mars or the moon has turned to gold. I was particularly impressed with Laurence's single-handed piano solo.

The clock was ticking and curfew time approaching. The troops were marshalled, Michael Mather the latest drummer, a new trumpet player, David Olantungi, and a cast of 1000s (or so it seemed) took off on Autumn Leaves. These leaves weren't drifting by any windows they were precipitating as the soloists blew up the storm which was the cue for Hurricane Julija to take the tiles off the roof (and we were in the basement!)

The Girl From Lithuania is something else! in the course of a few bars she is a jazz singer, a dramatic actress, a dancer, a you name it, every note, every word, every movement is meaningful. At times maybe a touch over the top but, with the bewitching hour approaching, who cares? The bewitching hour passed and Julija was now into what could well be her signature tune - Stormy Weather!

The weather outside was stormy but I hardly noticed...
Lance.


Paul Grainger (bass); Bradley Johnston (guitar); Mark Robertson (drums) + Jordan Alfonso (alto sax); Harry Keeble, Steve Summers (tenor sax); Ed Bell (cornet); David Olatungi (trumpet); David "Showtime" Gray (trombone); Alan Law (piano); Laurence Harrison (piano/guitar) James Birkett (guitar); Abbie Finn, Tom ?, Michael Mather (drums); Irene Birkett, Jan Spencelayh, Julija Jacenaite (vocals).

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