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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17838 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 159of them this year alone and, so far, 6 this month (March 3).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club.

Tues 11: Solea @ Earthlings, the Healing Café, 94 Buckingham St., Newcastle, NE4 5QR. 7:00-8:45pm. Food available if ordered before 6:30pm. New band: Johannes Dalhuijsen (tenor sax, bass clarinet); Richard Herdman (guitar); Nick Bagnall (bass guitar); John Hirst (drums).
Tue 11: Giles Strong Quartet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: The Exu + Matt Cliffe @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 13: Oh La La! @ Allendale Village Hall, Northumberland. 7:30pm. £12.00.; £6.00. child. Fifi La Mer (accordion, vocals), Oliver Wilby (reeds).
Thu 13: Fiona Finden’s Jazz Express @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 14: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Taylor @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00-2:00pm. £5.00. at the door. Second Friday in the month lunchtime concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Brass Funkeys + Dilutey Juice @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Oh La La! @ Edmundbyers Village Hall, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. £12.00.; £10.00. (additional £5.00. supper option, ordered in advance). Fifi La Mer (accordion, vocals), Oliver Wilby (reeds).
Fri 14: The Collective @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £8.50.
Fri 14: Bridget Metcalfe Quintet @ St George’s Venue, Park Road, Hartlepool. 7:30pm.

Sat 15: Hot Teapots @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 15: Creakin’ Bones @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: Is This Jazz? @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk. Performances by Mu Quintet, Jinjé, A Brief Utopia, John Pope & Co + André Marmot (author of Unapologetic Expression: The Inside Story of the UK Jazz Explosion) in conversation + DJ sets ‘til 3:00am. ‘A Festival of New Jazz’.
Sat 15: Vintage Explosion @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 15: Alligator Gumbo @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Sat 15: One Night Standards @ The White Room, Stanley. 8:00pm. £8.67 (inc. bf). Note - previously advertised Salty Dogs cancelled.
Sat 15: Howlin’ Mat @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Blues guitar.

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

Saturday, August 15, 2020

Maurice J.Summerfield remembers Julian Bream (July 15, 1933 - August 14, 2020)

I first saw Julian Bream in concert at the City Hall in Newcastle in 1956.  I was studying jazz guitar with the late Charlie Smith in Newcastle. I was immediately  enchanted by the musical virtuosity of Julian Bream.  As a result I developed a life long love of the classical guitar and its repertoire.  Bream's tone, rhythmic  timing and overall brilliant musicality, I am sure, were coloured by his love of jazz.   His father, an artist and amateur jazz guitarist,  encouraged his son  to listen to Django Reinhardt and other jazz guitarists.   During his National Service Bream played an archtop guitar in the  Army dance band.

In 1956/57 I used to go to London to study with Ivor Mairants at his Central School of Dance Music.  I was fascinated to see on the school's teaching staff, amongst others, Bert Weedon, my old friend Ike Isaacs and Julian Bream.

I first spoke to Julian Bream, on the phone,  in 1974.  He was making a television programme for the BBC - 'The Five Faces of the Guitar' - and he wanted to contact  Barney Kessel to be the jazz guitarist on the programme.  In addition the programme featured Paco Pena (Flamenco), John Renbourn (Folk), Jeff Beck (Rock) with himself on classical guitar.  I was able to put him touch with Barney who did take part  in this programme.

In September 1982 my publishing company (Ashley Mark) began to publish the monthly magazine 'Classical Guitar'.  I was the managing editor of this magazine for almost 32 years until I sold the magazine in 2014 to String Letter Publishing in the USA.  Julian was was the first cover artist of the magazine and the last cover artist of the UK edition.  This fact reflected my admiration for this unique artist.  

Over the 32 years I was in regular contact with Julian by letter and by phone.  He also invited me to visit him in his beautiful country home in 1985 in  Semley, Dorset.  A memorable day (see photo).

I was pleased to be able publish the biography - 'The Art of Julian Bream' by Graham Wade (Ashley Mark 2008).  Although unauthorised, the author Graham Wade gave Julian a copy who confirmed that he was pleased with it.

The world of music has lost a rare genius.  However we are fortunate to have a very large number of his wonderful recordings  so that his legendary unique musical talent can continue to enchant this generation and future generations.

Maurice J. Summerfield

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