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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

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.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, March 11, 2020

Going to Chicago

(By Russell Capone)

The mass hysteria sweeping the globe reached heights of 38,000 feet. High above the Atlantic face masks were in evidence. Just what are these guys afraid of? A cough, a splutter and suddenly the whole world is gripped with fear. Well, there were more important things to think about, such as wondering how many on board the flight to O'Hare International were heading to, whisper it...Bix Fest? 

It was busy in 'cattle class' with face mask and non-face mask wearing types occupying most of the many hundreds of seats. A Hawaiian surfer dude (he had the t-shirt saying so), weary business types, on-a-budget students, Mid West sorts - the sort who had enjoyed one too many triple cheese burgers and were looking forward to another one in the Windy City. 

Time for some in-flight entertainment. The music play list included no fewer than 39 jazz albums. Earphones in, first choice - Bebop Professor by the one and only Dizzy Gillespie & his Orchestra! Anthropology52nd Street Theme, classic after classic. What a great band! As Jumpin' with Symphony Sid roared, one wondered how many aboard voted for Dizz as President? Imagine, if Dizzy had made it to the White House the world would have been a better place. Oop Bop Sh' Bam! 

It was eight o'clock in the evening back home in Newcastle (an indeterminate time midway across the Atlantic), time for Paul Grainger to get the Black Swan jam session under way. Who'd turn up this week? Logging on to BSH to read LL's review will be a priority on arrival at O'Hare International. 

Up in the bright blue yonder the most wonderful views of a snow covered Newfoundland (see photo) were accompanied by another music selection - Theo Croker's Star People Nation. An excellent album, Just Let it Ride and The Messenger two stand out tracks. Croker will be at Gateshead Jazz next week. 

Several albums (several hours) later...our Aer Lingus pilot informed us we would soon begin the descent into Chicago! 
Russell

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