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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

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. CANCELLED!
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.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ 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

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Jazz gets reset!

(Press release)

JazzReset21 @SevenArts Leeds, live and online, 20 May – 22 July

A massive programme of live jazz music has been announced for 2021 in Leeds to get the live jazz scene going again after lockdown.

Called JazzReset21 and running for three months, the programme will feature dozens of COVID-safe events, concerts and masterclasses by established and emerging artists, from Ian Shaw on 27 May to Byron Wallen on 17
June .The programme is part of an attempt to bring live jazz back to Leeds, and sees live music promoters JazzLeeds in partnership with Chapel Allerton arts space, Seven Arts.

Amongst the artists involved are international jazz superstar singer Ian Shaw, exciting trumpet player Byron Wallen,  sax woman Josephine Davies’s spiritual jazz group “Satori”, superb pianists Liam Noble and Andrew McCormack, Leeds bassist Adrian Knowles and his “Sound of 59” audio visual reimagining of music by Monk, Miles and Mingus and Rafe’s Dilemma with their musical collaborations with Northern playwrights. JazzRest21 starts with   a new sextet led by Leeds based Scottish trumpeter Malcolm Strachan “About Time” on 20th May at Seven Arts. 

In addition to established artists, JazzReset21 will champion rising stars and young talent from Leeds. The Sunday afternoon programme at Seven Arts will include College Collection – two concert from some of the final year students at Leeds Conservatoire offering them their first chance to perform in over a year. There will also be a special Sunday concert by Leeds singer Louise Gibbs, with veteran saxists Frank Griffith  with a tribute to Duke Ellington

Says organiser Steve Crocker –“People have been starved of live music for so long, and musicians are itching to perform again live. We were the only jazz club presenting live music in the UK last summer and have the opportunity to present an even more ambitious programme this year

More details : www.jazzleeds.org.uk.

Steve Crocker  (JazzLeeds).

JazzReset21 programme @Seven Arts, 31 Harrogate Road, Leeds LS73PD.

9 and 16 May – College Collection 21. Leeds Conservatoire and JazzLeeds present music from rising star jazz students from the Conservatoire 1.30pm – live stream only.

20 May: “About Time” Malcolm Strachan’s new sextet featuring with Nico Widdowson, piano, Courtny Tomas double bass, Erroll Rollins drums, Atholl Ransome, tenor saxophone, Danny Barley trombone, and Malcolm himself on trumpet -  live and livestream options 7.30pm.

23 May: Tessa Smith Quintet – jazz singer, choir organiser and Lindy Hopper Tessa Smith with a quintet featuring Stuart McDonald on sax. 1.30pm live performance.

30 May: “We love you madly” – Louis Gibbs with a tribute to the music of Duke Ellington featuring Frank Griffith on sax and Richard Wetherall piano - live and livestream options 1.30pm.

27 May*: International singing superstar (and one-time stand-up comedian) Ian Shaw - “What’s New” with saxman Iain Ballamy and pianist Jamie Safir piano presenting music from their lockdown album - 2 concerts 7pm and 9.00pm,  live and livestream options.

3 June Liam Noble “The Long Game” feat Liam Noble piano, Seb Rochford drums and Tom Herbert bass. 7.30pm live and livestream options.

10 June "Satori", spiritual jazz trio with Josephine Davies tenor, Dave Whitford bass and James Maddren drums. 7.30pm live and livestream options.

17 June: Byron Wallen “Four Corners” with Byron Wallen trumpet, Rob Luft, guitar, Paul Michael bass, Rod Young drums - live and livestream options.

24 June: Andrew McCormack solo and trio – Andrew McCormack piano, Joe Downard on bass and Rod Youngs on drums - live and livestream options.

8 July "Rafe’s Dilemma" celebrate their new collaborations with local playwrights featuring Nel Begley on vocals, Jamil Sheriff keyboards, Sam Vicary bass, and Katie Patterson drums - live and livestream options.

22 July "Sound of 59" celebrate the music of that famous jazz year with Joel Purnell tenor saxophone, Jim Corry alto saxophone, Mark Chandler trumpet, Kevin Holbrough trombone, Jason Scott piano, Adrian Knowles double bass, Caroline Boaden drums - live and livestream options.

Thursday evenings concerts starting time 7.30pm (except *) Sunday afternoon concerts starting time 1.30pm. Tickets in advance only, limited seating. Live performance with livestream options. Tickets are on sale here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/jazzleeds  More gigs be announced soon including community jam sessions, rush hour jazz in the Seven Arts bar and a mini summer jazz festival! All in the superb intimate atmosphere of Seven Arts, with table service, great music, licensed bar, reduced numbers social distancing. Tickets in advance only with livestream options.

Contact - Steve Crocker (info@jazzleeds.org.uk, 07544 352594)

JazzLeeds are proud to acknowledge the help and support we receive/havereceived from: Arts at Leeds, Leeds Inspired, Arts Council England, Seven Arts Leeds

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