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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

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: 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.

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

Sunday, February 14, 2021

Jo Harrop: Valentine's Day live stream from the 606

Jo Harrop (vocals); Jamie McCredie (guitar); Sam Watts (piano); Jihad Darwish (double bass) Pete Adam Hill (drums) 

Valentine's Day. What better way to spend the evening than in the company of Jo Harrop? Live streaming from the 606, London, our exiled superstar sang a set of love songs for the occasion. Exiled? Yes, Jo is from 'up north', County Durham to be precise, making it big in London. With Jo this evening, some of her favourite musicians, including Tyneside ex-pat guitarist Jamie McCredie. The set list would comprise GASbook gems and a couple of new tunes Jo has written with friends on the London scene. 

You'd be so Nice to Come Home to opened the set, Jo in fine voice from the first note. So many great tunes played by a great band - McCredie, pianist Sam Watts and Jo's regular bass and drums boys, Jihad Darwish and Pete Adam Hill. Moon River most effective, I Love Being Here With You vying for tune of the night, absolutely flying, McCredie knocking out a swinging solo. This was the business! What a Little Moonlight Can Do taken at a lick, smiles all round, tremendous! From Camelot, Lerner and Loewe's If Ever I Would Leave You, a choice selection, rarely heard, stripped down to a duet - Jo's voice, Sam Watt's romantic piano accompaniment. Excellent. 

If you can't find love, you can always buy love said Jo. Cue Love for Sale. Shout outs to some of Jo's 'up north' supporters in Newcastle and Chester le Street. A late observation, signifying nothing in particular...all on stage except Jo were wearing headgear of one kind or another. Fine and Mellow featured top draw piano playing from Watts, an expressive bass solo from Darwish and an exchange of scatted fours between Jo and Jamie. And that was it. Good night.                 
Russell 

Set list included: You'd be so Nice to Come Home to; I've Got a Crush on You; Moon River; The Way You Look Tonight; Confessin'; I Love Being Here With You; My Funny Valentine; What a Little Moonlight Can Do; If Ever I Would Leave You; Love for Sale; Fine and Mellow  
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3 comments :

JERRY said...

Did your stream work well, Russell? We were plagued by jumping and buffering all through the show which I blamed on our often unreliable internet connection here. This was particularly galling given the excellence of the music on offer.
JERRY

Monday, February 15, 2021 8:54:00 am
Russell said...

Hi Jerry,no problems at all here on Tyneside. As you say, Jo and the boys were great. It'll be nice to hear Jo in concert once again, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:50:00 am
JERRY said...

I'll drink to that!

Monday, February 15, 2021 6:37:00 pm

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