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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

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00-2:00pm. £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. SOLD OUT!
Fri 14: Fiona Finden’s Jazz Express @ Flash House Brewing Co., North Shields. 8:00pm.
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: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt 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. .

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.

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

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Josh talks and plays Louie - April 18/19

Six o'clock Saturday evening in Davenport, Iowa, midnight Saturday here in Newcastle. Josh Duffee in his home town of Davenport, your reviewer at home in Newcastle. Drummer Josh was about to conduct a seminar on his chosen subject for this week's live stream event, one Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni. Luigi who? you ask. Try Louie Bellson.

Josh Duffee is known to Tyneside jazz fans thanks largely to his annual pilgrimage to the Village Hotel on North Tyneside to participate in the Classic Jazz Party. The event's primary focus is on the 'classic jazz' era which some would refer to as the 'Jazz Age' (essentially 1920s' jazz), its practitioners and the hotspots - New Orleans, Chicago, St Louis, New York and beyond. Last week Josh went in search of Bix Beiderbecke, a key figure during the period. This week Louie Bellson took centre stage. From Josh's home our live stream host would tell the story of one of his drum heroes. 

As with Bix last week, Josh's enthusiasm for his subject shone through. The two-bass drum kit sitting on the floor once belonged to Louie Bellson, now, thanks to his friendship with the legendary musician (Bellson died in 2009), Josh is the proud owner of this priceless artifact - bass drums, toms, snare, cymbals, drum stool, sticks, brushes, the lot! Our host explained that Bellson asked him to safeguard his legacy - a man who worked with Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and others - and to make full use of the kit. Josh (as usual, dressed for the occasion replete with one of Louie Bellson's ties - that's a 'necktie' over in Iowa), was about to do just that.

Part drum clinic, part history lesson, Josh got behind the traps to show, in close-up, Bellson's double bass drum set-up, his array of cymbals, the works. Lovingly, excitedly, Josh drooled over 18" and 24" cymbals, ride cymbals this, hi-hat that, this was a kid in a sweet shop (candy store if you're in America). Come to think of it, this wasn't the kid in the candy store, this was the candy store owner in their shop! 

Josh demonstrated Bellson's style and various techniques by playing along to some of the great drummer's recordings. AmorosoCaxton Hall Swing (Josh revealed that not only did Bellson write the number to mark his wedding to Pearl Bailey in London, but he, Josh, some sixty years later, visited the site with a fellow jazz percussion nut, Mr Nick Ball!) and a Bellson side with none other than James Brown doing his thing on For Once in My Life.
                      
In addition to practical demos, Josh proudly showed off his collection of Bellson albums, books and memorabilia, including a treasured possesion - a signed photograph of Bellson dedicated to Josh. More drum talk - Papa Jo Jones, Big Sid Catlett, Bellson's 'jingle sticks', brush technique then into Brush Taps. To conclude his look at the life and work of Louis Bellson our genial host sat at the kit one more time to play an improvised solo, in the style, of course. Five plus minutes later Josh Duffee was done. 

Josh Duffee's Bix tour and this survey of the music of Louis Bellson share at least two things in common - our host's unbridled enthusiasm for his subject and attention to detail with regard to the presentation of his live stream event. Next Saturday (April 25), 6:00pm Iowa time, midnight our time, Josh Duffee presents 1920s' Percussion

In common with other musicians around the world Josh has lost income due to all gigs being cancelled until further notice. For those who wish to donate a sum however great or small Josh's PayPal account is: Paypal.me/joshuaduffee1. 
Russell

PS: Hopefully this link to the live stream works. If not go into Facebook and search Josh Duffee.

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