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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

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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.

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

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Annie's song - The Long (but not long enough) Goodbye

I came into jazz around about the time when Django, Bird and the Dorsey brothers died. As a youngster, reading my first Melody Makers, I figured that they must be something special - it didn't take me long to discover just how special they were.

Over the years, one by one the greats vanished, leaving behind cherished memories of concerts and albums. I was becoming blasé.

Everyone was dying but me and a select, albeit diminishing few. Well that few has become even more diminished - Annie Ross.

Cleo, Annie, Norma, A.N. Other - who was the greatest British jazz singer? I'm sure that all would nominate each other but this isn't sport where you tot up points or runs or speeds. This is about art and the interpretation of a lyric and few did it better than Annie. 

I first heard her on an old Nixa 10" vinyl - Annie by Candlelight - with Tony Crombie playing "arranger's piano" and I was hooked. Then came the Lambert, Hendricks, Ross' sessions - sheer magic! I remember hearing them at Newcastle City Hall with the Basie Band and it was like - if I'm gonna die let it be now!

Billy Harper backed her at a semi-impromptu session at Newcastle's New Orleans Club in the early 1960's and was impressed by her professionalism and ability to adapt to any situation. Bill recounts that her set-list was written on the back of a British Rail menu card. He summed up saying, "Would that they were all like Annie!"

Indeed!

Annie Ross died yesterday (July 21) four days short of her 90th birthday. To say "Sadly missed" or "Rest In Peace" - heartfelt as it may be - seems so inadequate. Perhaps Duke should have the final word - "We love you madly".
Lance

2 comments :

Gerry Richardson said...

She sat in with Last Exit at the University Theatre (as was) and sang a blues but not Twisted in 1976ish. Great night and great to meet her.

Tommy Henderson said...

When Cleo Laine was at Grey's Club, Annie Ross turned up with a few of the
Basie Band from the City Hall Show, And Cleo invited her up to sing.
With the Basie band cheering them on,we had a fabulous night to remember.
Those were the best nights, I'll never forget them!!

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