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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

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. CANCELLED!
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: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
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.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ 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

Tuesday, December 08, 2020

Best Albums of 2020 (Editor's choice)

These are some of the albums that I have enjoyed this year. They're in alphabetical order and I haven't included downloads as, Luddite that I am, to me they're too ephemeral - out of sight, out of mind,

Big Band

Kathrine Windfeld Big Band - Orca.

Maria Schneider Orchestra - Data Lords.

South Florida Jazz Orchestra - Cheap Thrills.

Vocal

Callum Au/Claire Martin - Songs and Stories.

Diana Krall - This Dream of You.

Jo Harrop/Jamie McCredie - Weathering the Storm.

Marty Elkins - 'Tis Autumn.

Royal Bopsters - Party of Four.

Small Group.

Allison Neale - Quietly There.

Artemis.

Charles McPherson - Jazz Dance Suites.

Dime Notes - Daylight Savin'

Eddie Daniels - Night Kisses.

House of the Black Gardenia - The New Lowdown.,

James Copus - Dusk.

Jeff Hamilton Trio - Catch Me If You Can.

Judith/Dave O'Higgins - His 'n' Hers.

Max Haymer - Whirlwind.

Rob Barron - From This Moment On

TRYPL.

Classic/Historic

Dave Brubeck - Lullabies.

Dexter Gordon - The Squirrel.

Ella Fitzgerald - The Lost Berlin Tapes.

Louis Armstrong - Live in Europe.

Neil Swainson - 49th Parallel.

Wolfgang Lackerschmid/Chet Baker - Ballads For Two.

Wolfgang Lackerschmid/Chet Baker - Quintet Sessions 1979.

There are many more I could/should/would have picked but time and space etc.

Let's hear it for your choices.

Lance

at

4 comments :

Dave said...

Hi Lance
I’ll make my usual complaint about Data Lords in that it is raved about by those who get free copies to review but unheard by the rest of us who would have to pay £50 plus to import a copy for ourselves.
Apart from that, keep up the excellent work.
Cheers
Dave

Wednesday, December 09, 2020 4:07:00 pm
Lance said...

Dave, we're always on the lookout for reviewers ...

Thursday, December 10, 2020 6:52:00 pm
Dave said...

Oh no! I might have got myself volunteered there.
Sign me up

Thursday, December 10, 2020 9:50:00 pm
Lance said...

Email me and we'll find something for you.

Thursday, December 10, 2020 10:27:00 pm

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