Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 2026)

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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

From This Moment On

September.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

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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