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

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

Thursday, April 30, 2020

International Jazz Day - a virtual triumph

With such an array of talent from 190 countries I found it impossible to do more than offer an overview of this magnificent event or to note all of the names - some of which I couldn't even spell - such is the internationalism of this event!

But this wasn't about individuals it was about the global jazz community and the annual celebration of the music we all love. That the general media seems to have ignored it just brings us closer together and, to be fair, they have a lot of other issues to keep them occupied with!

The roll call was impressive: John Beasley playing Scrapple From the Apple - virtually - with tenor and keys from across the world. Lizz Wright and Kenny Banks Sr.. A clip from Aretha back in 2016. John McLaughlin playing Little Miss Valley. Some amazing bass guitar from Marcus Miller. Dianne Reeves in Istanbul. Cécile singing Leftover. Jane Monheit singing Over the Rainbow - I love Jane - and Charlie Puth's reflective version of Polka Dots and Moonbeams in his bedroom.

We had Esperanza and Stevie Wonder doing Midnight Sun, Lee Ritenour and Joey DeFrancesco in a retro shot with a Russian big band - the pianist reminded me of Dave Kerridge. 

It was great - not just the music - but the feeling of solidarity in the jazz community in these dreadful times. I was out clapping with my neighbours but we should have been able to go back in and watch it on BBC or ITV.
Gregory Porter, John Scofield and Dee Dee Bridgewater just a few more of the big hitters past and present to make this such a memorable, and emotional, event.

I'm a sentimental old fool but, as I listened to the music and to the words that so many people spoke, I was so touched as to how this dreadful pandemic has brought us all so, hypothetically speaking, much closer together  than 2 metres apart - not even two  continents apart.

Also, being a global event, it brought home to me how sad it was that we weren't having our own Global event. 
Lance
PS: And, oh yes, Herbie Hancock, we, and by we, I mean the whole jazz world, loves you madly.
Link.

No comments :

Blog Archive