Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

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, January 15, 2021

Alec Harper live streaming from Kansas Smitty's - Jan. 14

Alec Harper (tenor sax); Dave Archer (guitar); Will Sach (double bass); Jas Kayser (drums)

(Screenshots by Ken Drew)


This evening's live stream from Kansas Smitty's found itself up against an all star session on Frith Street (see LL's Supersax review). One change in the advertised line-up with pianist Noah Stoneman making way for guitarist Dave Archer (this evening standing up playing a Telecaster), other than that, it was business as usual. Drummer Jas Kayser handled the introductions, kicking off with 
The End of a Love Affair. For the next hour or so the quartet played an impeccable selection of tunes. 

The second number - Surrey with the Fringe on Top - proved to be the sole trio outing of the evening with tenor sax man Alec Harper sitting it out (bassist Will Sach playing the familiar melody). Harper returned to play Star Eyes followed by Trane's Lonnie's Lament. Kansas Smitty's boys and girls can, and do, turn their hand to anything, seemingly nothing is beyond them. From Coltrane to the 1931 Columbo-Gaskill ballad Prisoner of Love. Yes, whatever the era or style, they're up for it. Bernstein's Lucky to be Me and Come Rain or Come Shine (one of the many Harold Arlen-Johnny Mercer penned GASbook classics) concluded another hour of KSTV (Kansas Smitty's TV) top drawer entertainment.   
Russell        
  
Set list: The End of a Love Affair; Surrey with the Fringe on Top; Star Eyes; Lonnie's Lament; Prisoner of Love; Lucky to be Me; Come Rain or Come Shine

No comments :

Blog Archive