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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

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Midweek, it must be Small's

(Screenshot by Russell)
Lew Tabackin Quartet live streaming from Small's, NYC - April 13

Lew Tabackin (tenor sax); John Eckert (trumpet, flugelhorn); Yasushi Nakamura (double bass); Jason Tiemann (drums)

Live streams at Small's consist of two one hour sets. This review is of Tuesday evening's second set, starting at half past midnight (BST). Two octogenarians joined forces with two of New York's younger generation to play some familiar and not so familiar numbers. The principals, Lew Tabackin, 81 years young, blew tenor sax and flute, and John Eckert, at 82, blew trumpet and flugel. 

A Tabackin chart, a blues titled Chasing the Carrot laid down a marker, our bandleader hopping around like a spring chicken. Coleman Hawkins' Hanid (Tabackin said Hank Jones claimed to have written the number) featured Tabackin on tenor with an opportunity for bassist Yasushi Nakamura to show what he could do. Yet another great bass player is Mr Nakamura. Body and Soul made the cut, as did Trinkle Tinkle (Kinda wants to make me go to the bathroom quipped Tabackin), indeed, Monk's composition just about came out tops with Jason Tiemann contributing a marvellous drum solo. Jimmy Knepper's Leaves of Absinthe based on the changes to Lullaby of the Leaves closed the set with Nakamura once again impressing.     

(Screenshot by Russell)
Clovis Nicolas Quintet live streaming from Small's, NYC - April 14 

John Boutellier (tenor sax); Jeremy Pelt (trumpet); Miki Yamanaka (piano); Clovis Nicolas (double bass); Jimmy Macbride (drums)

Small's French Jazz series benefits from financial input from the French government and this evening's set presented bassist Clovis Nicolas with his quintet featuring fellow countryman John Boutellier who blew some tremendous tenor sax, upholding the Greenwich Village venue's reputation as a NYC bebop hotspot. Boutellier's frontline partner just happened to be Jeremy Pelt. The post bop/post Blakey trumpeter matched the Frenchman every step of the way. 

Miki Yamanaka seemingly picks up lots of Big Apple gigs and it's no surprise, the NYC resident Japanese pianist is a fine player. Drummer Kimmy Macbride is another making a name for himself in the hothouse environment of the city that never sleeps. A fine quintet, its leader Monsieur Nicolas content to let the music and the musicians speak. Set highlights? Hutch (written in honour of drummer Gregory Hutchinson) and a swift take on Fine and Dandy.  
Russell

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