Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 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

18104 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1068 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 25), 82.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

JANUARY 2026

Thu 01: ???

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. No session this week, next one Friday 9th
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

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, April 03, 2020

Paul Edis: Lockdown Live - April 3


(Review by Lance/ photo by Russell)

Episode 3 of Paul Edis in Lockdown revealed a few unexpected twists and turns offering an insight into some of this extraordinary musician's many musical dimensions.

The music began with a sprightly Surrey With the Fringe on Top from the show Oklahoma. Always interesting to hear a tune away from its original context something that Paul does very well transforming it from Rodgers and Hammerstein's pseudo-country ditty to an almost Bill Evans/John Lewis-like composition. 

Tony Roberts requested Paul to sing Young at Heart which, as we all know, was originally sung by Frank Sinatra in the film of the same name. Paul's a much better pianist than Sinatra was.

A couple of requests from Francis Tulip: George Shearing's Conception and Kern's Nobody Else But Me. Our pianist described the former tune as very difficult before proceeding to make it look very easy!

Corcovado and a delightful Polka Dots and Moonbeams followed. Some reference was made to Martin Shaw but I didn't quite catch it. My one minor complaint, the announcements weren't very clear.

Another vocal - Time Will Tell. This was from a suite that Jambone and the Young Sinfonia performed at Sage Gateshead.

Splendid Isolation involved loops, keys, clarinet, flute and voice - a sort of digital one man band.

More singing with I Fall in Love Too Easily, nice... Next up was A Theme and Variation on a Nursery Rhyme and we were asked to guess which nursery rhyme it was. Nobody got it. In fact I'd never heard of it (Hush Little Baby) but, then again, nursery rhymes have probably changed since I was in diapers.

As always an enjoyable hour with plenty of contrast.
Lance.

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