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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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

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: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

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, November 28, 2020

Kansas Smitty's: Live streaming from Kansas Smitty's - Nov. 28

Giacomo Smith (alto sax); Dylan Jones (trumpet); Deschanel Gordon (piano); Ferg Ireland (double bass); Jas Kayser (drums).
(Photo courtesy of Ken Drew) 

Manteca for starters. Band leader Giacomo Smith didn't require much in the way of a warm up, straight in with some searing Bird-like alto saxophone, trumpeter Dylan Jones likewise, Dizzy-esque, the horns supported by BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year Deschanel Gordon. Pianist Gordon too went for it, confident, not in the least intimidated. Ferg Ireland introduced himself to a vast online audience, as did Berklee graduate drummer Jas Kayser. All round excellence! 
Gordon, Jones, unison horns, Cannonball's Cannonball. More excellence. Smith announced there would much more of Dizzy, at Jones' suggestion - good! Tin Tin Deo's opening statement, the horns, first Jones followed by Smith, the rhythm section cookin', the award-winning Deschanel knocking out a great solo, it couldn't get much better, could it? 

A step back in time, Bechet's Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me given a bop-ish treatment with more from Deschanel - a great talent. Talking of talent...Smith's alto exchanged fours with the immensely talented Jas Kayser,yet more excellence! Ballad time, title not announced, laid back alto, similarly laid back trumpet, Deschanel supplying the chordal accompaniment. 

From ballad to Dizzy's Calypsonian And Then She Stopped, Deschanel's percussive piano playing. And so, to the finale...on your marks...get set...Dizzy's Dizzy Atmosphere. And off they went into the stratosphere. Tremendous! More, much more from Kansas Smitty's in December.    
Russell 

1 comment :

Lance said...

Bird and Diz - alias Smith and Jones - Live! A cracking session. "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to me" was a surprise and I wondered if the Vieux Carré Jazzmen had sneaked in the back door. Then I remembered their version of the title is a Spoonerism - Blues My Sweetie's Dirty Nightie Gives to me (or something similar!)

And yes, Deschanel was a deserved winner at the Young Jazz Musician final!

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