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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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
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: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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

Tuesday, April 07, 2020

Tonight's Blue Note: Clifford Brown - Memorial Album.

(By Lance).

Originally released on 4 x 10" LPs from two sessions and subsequently  condensed onto a 12 incher these represent a fitting memorial to one who, along with Fats Navarro and Dizzy, defined bebop trumpet playing. Miles was still in the embryo stage and who knows that, but for the tragic automobile accident that took his young life, he wouldn't have been the greatest of them all?

Conjecture, I know, but these 1953 sessions present a strong case.

The supporting cast were all - or about to become - superstars in their own right. Donaldson's rendition of You Go To My Head is pure lyricism and Brownie's solo on the same tune isn't bad either although it's his feature on Easy Living where his balladic playing really comes to the fore. 

Gigi Gryce is probably a forgotten name now but, back in the day, he was considered an innovative composer - one of his compositions was Social Call later sung by Jon Hendricks with Cannonball and Alice Grace with SSBB and his Parker inspired alto added much to many sessions.

This is a fitting memorial to the man who inspired Benny Golson to write I Remember Clifford.

Clifford Brown was killed in an automobile accident near Bedford on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on June 26, 1956. Coincidentally, it just happened to be the very day that I enlisted into the RAF (National Service - remember that?) If I'd known what was happening over in Bedford, Pennsylvania it might have put into perspective what was going on at Bedford, England (RAF Cardington).  "At the double, present arms, thank gawd we got rid of 'itler - he'd 'ave pissed all over you lot!"

Yes, I have fonder memories of Clifford Brown than those of a certain Drill Instructor who will remain nameless in case he survived all the death threats.
AC2 Lance.

I think I'm going to have to employ a security guard - this one's listed at 250 bucks! Would I sell it? You could email me if it was going to a good turntable

Clifford Brown (trumpet); Lou Donaldson (alto sax); Elmo Hope (piano); Percy Heath (bass); "Philly" Joe Jones (drums). June 9, 1953.

Clifford Brown (trumpet); Gigi Gryce (alto sax/flute); Charlie Rouse (tenor sax); John Lewis (piano); Percy Heath (bass); Art Blakey (drums). August 28, 1953.
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