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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ 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

Thursday, December 31, 2020

BSH New Year's Honours list

I looked in vain for the jazzers in the 2021 New Year's Honours list and I couldn't find any - there's usually one. However, to be rewarded you  first have to be nominated and, I guess, this year even the most dedicated of jazz fans - bearing in mind the lack of live gigs - have had other priorities on their mind.

So it is only right and proper that those in the front line are rewarded for their services although a few extra quid in the back pocket would probably be more appreciated.
I did note that Bradley Creswick, lately of the Northern Sinfonia, picked up an MBE which I loudly applaud. He may not be a jazzer but, given that he has been known to do some folk fiddle I'm sure that, if the chips were down, he could knock out a few Grappelli licks.

With all this in mind I have decided to reward the following with an OBSH (Order of Bebop Spoken Here). Again there is no monetary award just the honour.

Paul Edis. Although now based in London his roots are very much still in the northeast and his lunchtime sessions during the first lockdown, during which he played well over 100 tunes without repetition, kept our spirits up - just like Dame Vera Lynn during The Blitz. Apart from that, his work as an educator during his time at Sage Gateshead led to the emergence of many future stars.

Michael Lamb. Keeping a big band going is hard work at the best of times let alone during a pandemic such as enshrouded us this year. However, Michael persevered and when restrictions made it impossible he overcame them with Zoom sessions and socially distanced small groups from the Prohibition Bar.

And, of course, no honours' list would be complete without a few Dames.

Arise Dame Lindsay Hannon, Dame Emma Fisk, Dame Alice Grace, Dame Zoë Gilby and Dame Debra Milne. All helped to make our burden lighter with live streams, recordings and, in the case of Dame Debra there was her work with the Jazz Co-op.
Lance

3 comments :

Paul Edis said...

Thanks for including me Lance, and thank you for all your hard work keeping this site going. Yourself, Russell and the team of contributors deserve a medal (at least!). All the best for 2021!

Michael Lamb said...

Thank you Lance - I completely missed this when it was originally posted.

Of course, kudos to the SSBB musicians for making it all happen.

And, as Paul already said, thanks to yourself, Russell and team BeBop for keeping up the blog - we're lucky to have such a comprehensive account of jazz in the area (and beyond) from BBSH.

Happy new year!

EmmaFiskJazzVio said...

Many thanks for the honour bestowed Lance!X


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