Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

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

Monday, August 10, 2020

Livestream @ The Globe; Emma Fisk's Hot Club du Nord – August 9

Emma Fisk (violin); Bradley Johnston (guitar); David Harris (guitar); Bruce Rollo (bass).

‘My favourite Django number'
‘Can’t find the emoji for foot tapping'
‘All super solos and so crisp and together'
‘Brilliant! Really enjoyed your performance. Thank You’

And so the review is written for me by those who enthused in the comments box, and every word of it is true. A wonderful hour of lively, virtuoso music, danceable and romantic by turns. Many of the classics of gypsy jazz such as Coquette, Swing 42, Minor Swing; tunes such as Blue Drag (the drag was a popular dance of the 1920's); jazz songs such as Ain't Misbehavin'; It Had To Be You; Undecided …

There were a couple of other tunes that I can't name because I tapped the computer in error and doubled back on the performance at one point. I did wonder why Emma was repeating some of her warm, friendly chat, then it dawned. I must mention the superb rendition of  A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, beautiful tear-jerking violin from Emma and a great solo from Bradley, who was deputising for James Birkett, who has had a DIY incident of some sort. We wish him well.

Bruce did his stuff well on his always dependable bass, and I noticed some of the slapping style of playing which is also used in rock and roll. Fascinating. And all rounded off by the encore Nuages, more great violin and a skilled solo from David Harris this time.  

Seventy or so households were tuned in from all over the place, an expat in Michigan USA, someone from Suffolk, besides local people and names that I recognised from my other world of folk music. Gypsy jazz appeals to both jazz and folk fans perhaps more than any other type of jazz.

Emma deserves a mention for her enthusiastic introductions to tunes and her attention to the comments box, where she was greeted by many friends recalling previous gigs and anniversaries. She lastly gave profuse thanks to The Globe and the Jazz Coop for arranging these livestreams, well deserved thanks.
Ann Alex

1 comment :

EmmaFiskJazzVio said...

Many thanks for the review Ann! We really did have a wonderful time playing at The Globe last night. We had no idea what it would be like to play in a venue without a live audience and I think we were all surprised by how very enjoyable and sociable it was!
I imagine that even once live shows are possible again this will be something that will continue to make shows accessible to a wider audience.
Well done The Globe/ Jazz Co-op!
Emma x

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