Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ 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

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 
at

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!

Saturday, November 28, 2020 9:47:00 pm

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive