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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: King Bees @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Superb blues band.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

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: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ 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: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

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

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Clark Tracey Quartet live streaming from Guildford Jazz - April 14

Simon Allen (tenor sax, soprano sax); Bruce Boardman (piano); Andy Cleyndert (double bass); Clark Tracey (drums)

A first gig of the year for Clark Tracey. An online, international audience of some three hundred people logged on, commented and listened as drummer Clark played a set of eight compositions written by Stan Tracey over the course of six decades. Joining Clark at the Boiler Room for this Guildford Jazz concert billed as The Clark Tracey Quartet Celebrating the Compositions of Stan Tracey were three of the best in the business - saxophonist Simon Allen, who first worked with the Traceys twenty years ago, bassist Andy Cleyndert who has been an ever-present in the Traceys' various ensembles since 1980 (!) and pianist Bruce Boardman.

Clark, son of Stan, put together a programme reflecting the variety and enduring quality of Stan Tracey's compositions. Keeping it simple, Clark proceeded to present the material in chronological order, starting with Euphony, written for the Victor Feldman Sextet way back in 1952. A regulation round of solos - Simon Allen, tenor sax, Bruce Boardman, piano, and new father of twins, Andy Cleyndert, bass - brought it home just how good these guys are! 

Afro-Charlie Meets the White Rabbit first heard on a 1962 radio broadcast, later to feature on Alice in Jazzland, put Boardman in the spotlight. Close your eyes and this was Stan Tracey/Thelonious Monk. Clark had the discographical detail at hand - well, he would, wouldn't he? - and shed light on the origin of the title Rainow at Five Mile Road. Any guesses? Simply a location, an observation on a family holiday on Jersey. 

Clark said he was pleased with how well the quartet was playing, considering they hadn't played together for quite some time - 'minimalist rehearsal' said CT. A co-composition (that's Stan and Clark), Pajaras Exoticas from Continental Driftalso pleased Clark given that the piece was written for an eleven piece band. Oh, yes, Clark grabbed a brief solo into the bargain. Pudding and Mince from the Dylan Thomas inspired A Child's Christmas concluded the quartet's work. There was, however, one more number. Bruce Boardman played Ballad for Loos (from The Flying Pig) as a solo piano feature. Clark revealed that he can no longer bring himself to play it, composed by Stan for his father who saw action during WW1.             
Russell

Set list: EuphonyAfro-Charlie Meets the White RabbitRainbow at Five Mile RoadHoney HillBendologyPajaras ExoticasPudding and MinceBallad for Loos

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

Clark mentioned that he had a gig in Newcastle in December. It’s going to be very special.

Anonymous said...

Clark did indeed mention the Newcastle gig, although it'll be with a different, but equally brilliant, line-up. Next year Clark intends to work regularly with Allen, Boardman and Cleyndert.

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