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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Mon 13: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 13: Raymond MacDonald & Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £TBC.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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: Delta Prophets @ 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

Friday, November 27, 2020

Alice Grace Quartet - Live stream from Gosforth Civic Theatre - Nov. 27


Alice Grace (vocals); Mark Williams (guitar); Paul Grainger (bass); Russ Morgan (drums).

(Screenshot by Brian Ebbatson)

I lost a bit of time faffing around between F/b, YT & GCT before I eventually got logged in - it was so much simpler when you simply plonked down your money at the door or picked up the bass drum and walked in with the band hoping you looked liked a roadie!

Alas, those days are gone but, fortunately, the music like the melody lingers on. However, because of these hiccups I missed the first ten minutes or so which mean't that when I turned up Alice was just finishing what sounded like a fine version of On the Street Where You Live.

Autumn in New York followed - how different NY is today compared to when Vernon Duke penned it! It was an exquisite rendition of the then as opposed to the now!

Moonlight Saving Time was a request from Patti D and concluded with a scat/drum exchange of fours.

An original, Footloose, followed by Beautiful Love led to a superb It Could Happen to You - and you can bet your life it sure could!

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Alice said, she related it to her recently born child. Understandably, she did the song and young Freddie proud. However, Alice misinterpreted my comment "Play Misty For Me" as a request for the song rather than a reference to the film in which the Roberta Flack version played so prominent a part.  Must be before her time!

We were now in the home straight and the set finished up with Stevie Wonder's I Can't Help it and good old Lullaby of Birdland.

I realise I've concentrated on Alice but of equal importance were the contributions by Mark, Paul and Russ who played great solos and offered the perfect cushion for Alice to relax and spread the joy that comes from her voice - I know that sounds really cheesy but I couldn't think of any better way to put it!

Next week is quite important for GCT. They need to raise 7.5K to enable them to double that with Lottery funding so dig deep if you dig GCT.

Lance

(Collage by Ken Drew)

2 comments :

Brian E said...

That rendering of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was really something, sung with real feeling and beauty, Made the night for me. Great support too from Mark (5*), Paul and Russ.

Russell said...

Agreed 100%. Alice's take on the classic number was, as you say, Brian, 'really something'.

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