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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

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: Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 5:15pm or 5:45pm (times tbc). Part of the Alnwick Story Festival's music fringe programme: 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: Joseph O’Brien: The Ultimate Tribute to Frank Sinatra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. O’Brien & seven piece band (inc. Wendy Kirkland, Jim Corry & Pat Sprakes).
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.

Sun 02: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £10.00. Day 3/3.
Sun 02: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 02: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free (donations).
Sun 02: Side Café Orkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Derwentwater Road, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Milne Glendinning Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 6:30pm.
Sun 02: Bella by Barlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 02: Ali Watson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Sunday, April 04, 2021

The Pasadena Roof Orchestra live streaming from Ronnie's - April 4

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Duncan Galloway couldn't be at Ronnie's tonight, being stuck in Germany, Covid travel restrictions and all that. In the absence of the Pasadenas' frontman it was down to pianist Simon Townley to handle the announcements. The concert began with a good ol' good 'un, South Rampart St Parade. 

Tom 'Spats' Langham got to sing all the numbers which are normally the preserve of Galloway, so, an extra ration of next to nowt for our classic jazz era crooner! Spats the vocalist joined forces with 'bone man Adrian Fry on I Got a Right to Sing the Blues, Fry soloing. A hot take on Business in F as played by the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra featured Oliver Wilby (Glenn Miller Orchestra UK) blowing a swinging tenor chorus. 

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
From Fletcher Henderson to Al Bowlly of the British dance band era and Spats singing Ray Noble's The Very Thought of You. At this point in the proceedings more than seven hundred were online, on YouTube alone! You Ought to See Sally on Sunday (comp. R. Noble, as sung by A. Bowlly) heard Spats' vocals, Oliver Wilby's warm-toned tenor and precision ensemble playing. It Don't Mean a Thing put string bassist Dave Berry in the spotlight ably supported by his rhythm section buddies.  

The orchestra struck up High Society (Malcolm Baxter, trumpet, Robert Fowler's clarinet)...a cast iron choice! If I Had a Talking Picture of You served as a fitting tribute to the late Keith Nichols who arranged many of the PRO's charts. Well said Mr Townley. And to close - in 'normal times' the dance floor would have filled up in double quick time - Happy Feet. 

(Screenshot collage by Ken Drew)
Professional isn't the word, the Pasadena Roof Orchestra played a memorable gig, and, of course, they were ready with an encore...Nagasaki at what Keith Nichols liked to call 'tempo de tear-arse' which, by tradition, concluded with a few bars of Home in Pasadena.   
Russell

Dave Ford (trumpet); Malcolm Baxter (trumpet); Robert Fowler (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Oliver Wilby (tenor sax, clarinet); Dai Pritchard (alto sax, clarinet); Adrian Fry (trombone); Dave Berry (double bass, sousaphone); Simon Townley (piano); Tom 'Spats' Langham (banjo, guitar, vocals); Dom Sales (drums)

Set list: South Rampart St Parade; I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby; Paddlin' Madelin' Home; Beau Koo Jack; East St Louis Toodle-Oo; Anything Goes; I Got a Right to Sing the Blues; Business in F; The Very Thought of You; The Casa Loma Stomp; You Ought to See Sally on Sunday; It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing; If I Had a Talking Picture of You; A Flower is a Lovesome Thing; Happy Feet; Nagasaki; Home in Pasadena. 
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