Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 2026)

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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

From This Moment On

August

Mon 03: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 03: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Friday, March 26, 2021

Edis & Xenopoulos play the music of Harold Arlen - Mar. 26

(Screenshot by Russell)
Paul Edis (piano); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax)

A second live stream for Paul Edis and Vasilis Xenopoulos from Rokit Studio in London. Their choice of composer, Harold Arlen. The hour long set would serve to remind the online audience of the amazing songwriting abilities of Arlen - every tune an all-time GASbook classic. Vasilis monitored the online comment, in introducing many of the numbers, Paul was at pains to highlight the role of the lyricist in Arlen's career. If it was good enough for Sinatra... The lyricists, at least some of them, included Johnny Mercer, Ted Koehler and Yip Harburg.  

Come Rain or Come Shine began this Friday evening set. Sound balance good, Paul and Vasilis appeared to be in relaxed mood, swopping anecdotes about Arlen's tunes. My Shining Hour upped the pace, the boys absolutely killing, 'class' is the word. Ill Wind, as heard at Small's on Wednesday evening when pianist Tardo Hammer played it, more than met its match this side of the Atlantic. One nil to our London based duo! And so, to Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Vasilis wanted to play a contrafact of Arlen's endearing tune, cue Sonny Rollins' Valse Hot. One more tune, Yip Harburg's It's Only a Paper Moon with Vasilis unable to resist quoting Surrey with the Fringe on Top.                 
Russell

Set list: Come Rain or Come ShineI've Got the World on a StringGet HappyStormy WeatherMy Shining HourIll WindSomewhere Over the RainbowIt's Only a Paper Moon.

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