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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

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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