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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Thu 02: ???

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 03: John Gregory @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.

Sat 04: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Square, Middlesbrough. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £5.00. Xmas party (rescheduled from early December).

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

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

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Matt MacKellar Band livestreaming from The Black Swan, Newcastle - April 27

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Matt MacKellar (drums); Andy Champion (bass guitar); Ben Lawrence (keys) + Evie Hill (vocals).

A few tech. probs. at BSH HQ meant I didn't make my entrance to the Black Swan's virtual Press Box until 10 minutes after the advertised start time. Fortunately, the band were still on the opener - Continuum - a somewhat introspective piece by Jaco Pastorius that set the mood for the evening. This wasn't going to be a putting the boot in set as much as a time for displaying the more melodic side of the contemporary scene.

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Surprisingly, although Matt was far from being a shrinking violet, there weren't any extended drum solos. Instead, he opted for making his presence one of awareness rather than overpowering, a virtue that many drummers don't possess in abundance.

Ben Lawrence, as we've come to expect over the years, treated the material with respect. His delicate touch enhancing numbers that could have been lessened by a more flamboyant player.

As befitted his physical stature, Andy Champion was a tower of strength holding it all together both solowise and with his prominent, underlying, riffs.

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Evie only got to sing a couple of vocals and she didn't go for any soft options - no Summertime or Cry me a River  with Evie! Instead we heard Disenchanted and Sweet Love. Neither of them easy songs to sing and she coped well. Look forward to catching her again. 


Matt dedicated a couple of songs to his dad - George would have been proud... 

Lance

Continuum (Jaco Pastorius); Roy Allan (Roy Hargrove); Disenchantment: The Weight (Nate Smith); Someday We'll All be Free (Donny Hathaway & Edward Howard); The Yellowjacket (Shaun Martin); Lost Painting (Ben Lawrence); Interlude (?) (H E R B); Sweet Love (Anita Baker); J-Dillalude (J Dilla); Overjoyed (Stevie Wonder).

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