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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far,23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 12: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: King Bees @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.
Sun 12: Dave Bottomley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.
Sun 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 13: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 13: Raymond MacDonald & Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ 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, March 07, 2021

A Sunday Service with Mezz Mezzrow - Mar. 7

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals)

Of the many live streams to choose from, Adrian Cox's weekly Sunday Service is of a consistently high standard. Over the weeks and months our genial clarinetist has developed a large online following. Engaging with his audience seems to come naturally and, like many musicians, Cox has come to grips with the live stream technology. Today's session would focus upon clarinetist Mezz Mezzrow. 

Still slumming it in Bulgaria, Cox thanked the hotel for giving him free rein. Today's session came live from the hotel lobby. Would hotel guests stop by to listen? At the off no fewer than 100 fans were online. First up, Hot Club Stomp followed by Clarence Williams' I Ain't Give You None o' This Jelly Roll with Cox's first vocal of the set. Minutes later the online audience numbered 125. Clearly, word gets around. Just noticed Adrian's snazzy hat. Perhaps it's part of the Bad Manners' stage gear (Adrian does play stuff other than jazz!). 

Everybody Loves My Baby (comp. Spencer Williams/lyrics Jack Palmer) played - and sung - to a gentle background hum. What/who was it? Hotel guests! Real live human beings! Hang in there, the real, live gig is on the horizon! A pint, a packet of crisps, can't wait! 

Next week it's Mother's Day or Mothering Sunday. Adrian will be looking at the work of Ivy Benson. Excellent, tune in at one o'clock. Earlier in the week Adrian consulted Jim Denham about the tune Lights Out. Oracle Denham replied with chapter and verse. Adrian played - and sung - it, handclapping as he went, saying he liked the number, swiftly adding he liked all of the tunes he plays.

During the week our host listened to lots of Mezz Mezzrow. Aware of some of the critics who weren't too impressed with the man's technique, Adrian leapt to Mezzrow's defense saying: He had amazing spirit for the music (not least in the era of Dizzy and Bird and the all-pervading sound of bebop). Christopher's Rockin' took us up to two o'clock (four o'clock if you're in Bulgaria). In closing, Adrian recommended this evening's session from Ronnie Scott's - Denny Ilett's Big Band playing the music of Jimi Hendrix. That's recommendation enough, eight o'clock.      

Russell           

Set list: Hot Club StompI Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None o' This Jelly RollIndianaTommy's BluesA Melody from the SkySendin' the VipersEverybody Loves My BabyLights OutChristopher's Rockin' (aka Christopher Columbus)

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