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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

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Jazz Co-op Live Stream: Fergus McCreadie - May 31

Fergus McCreadie (keyboard)

Fergus McCreadie makes interesting viewing, very dramatic and enthusiastic, head bobbing, body bending towards the keyboard, unruly hair. I'm not surprised that he is a prize-winning performer as he played mostly original compositions with great aplomb.

Unfortunately the first 20 minutes or so of tonight's gig was marred by cutouts after every few notes. After Fergus made some technical adjustments this was sorted but it was rather frustrating and people may wish to catch up on the YouTube recording.

I missed the title of the first tune and Fergus is softly-spoken so I may have missed other titles. The piece began with very low left hand notes, fragmented, until the tune emerged, but stayed mostly in a powerful left hand. A tune played by Bill Evans, possibly composed by Harold Arlen, we were told. Next came Young and Foolish, sweet and flowing, but foreshortened by a 2 minute break to sort out the sound. No problems from then on.

This was followed by an original from his second CD, a tune called Across The Flatlands (I think) my favourite of the night, very Scottish and atmospheric, a 3-note repeated riff with a highland dance tune above it and short bagpipe-like swirls of sound, becoming more jazz-like, before the tune ends, seemingly in the middle. Then a tune composed during lockdown, as yet untitled, a slower meditative folky love song type of tune.

Fergus said that only 30 per cent of his listening is jazz, (good to get other influences) and he enjoys singer-songwriters, so he did a cover of the song Forgotten Eyes, a very singable melody, with improvisation and full use of the keyboard.  A request from the chat list next, Ardbeg  from the album Turas, another Highland influenced tune. The final offering was a tune with the working title Glasgow, a slow melody which could be a love song, very enjoyable but nothing at all like the Glasgow I remember from my last visit there, many years ago. You'd expect a tune from that city to have more punch!

A very enjoyable music session, despite the sound problems at the beginning.
Ann Alex

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