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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.

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.

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: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong 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: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

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

Monday, June 28, 2021

Sunday Night @ The Globe: Noel Dennis Trio - June 27

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Noel Dennis (trumpet, flugel); Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (bass)

It was back in the pre-blog days, at those fondly cherished Monday night sessions at the Side Café down by Newcastle Quayside, that I first encountered these three rather special musicians.

Since then, individually, they've lost weight, gained weight, lost hair, gained hair and, more importantly, achieved a standard that places them on a par with anyone, anywhere. A strong statement you might think but those who were present last night either in person or online would find it hard to disagree with.

(Collage by Ken Drew)
Opening safely, Dennis' unaccompanied introduction on flugel dared anyone to drop a pin. The mellifluous sound befitted the title - Beautiful Love. A switch to trumpet and a more biting attack on Joe Henderson's Recorda Me.

So far, so good but it was their take on Blue on Green from everybody's favourite album by Miles - A Kind of Blue - where it all really kicked off. Tightly muted trumpet, piano, bass then open horn and a fairly freeish finale.

If you're bold enough to play a Mingus number such as Nostalgia in Times Square then you need a bass player who can handle it. Andy Champion handled it as if Mingus himself had threatened him by saying that he'd better git it in his soul - he did git it in his soul! Edis also had it in his soul with another stirring solo before Dennis brought us up to the interval with some impressive half-valving.

The break which, incidentally, several of the livestreamers told me they considered it to be too long nevertheless gave me an opportunity to catch up with friends old and new in a socially distanced manner of course - my elbows are sore!

Back to the music and Love For Sale some nice block chords from Paul Edis. For me, the epitome of a good piano solo is the use of some well-chosen block chords - these were well chosen.

All Blues has become for bass players what High Society is for trad clarinet players - an essential part of their repertoire. For Andy Champion, falling off a log is difficult by comparision! 

Knowing Noel Dennis' affinity with the music of Tom Harrell it was inevitable the American trumpet ace wouldn't be overlooked and he wasn't - lyrical trumpet-playing on Moon Alley.*

Bus time was approaching but, when Noel announced the 'last number' as being Charlie Parker's Au Privave I decided I'd get the later bus! It was a wise decision as all three hit paydirt. Edis again going for gold, Dennis more like Freddie Hubbard or Lee Morgan as opposed to the Chet Baker influence of his early days and an arco bass solo from Andy that was just champion!

The audience clamoured for more and they got it with a nicely measured version of Stella by Starlight.

A lovely finish and, to make it even more perfect (if it is possible to be more perfect!) I caught the later bus with 2 minutes to spare. Lance

*Noel and Andy also appear on Zoë Gilby's recent album Aurora which has Zoë singing her own lyrics to a selection off Tom Harrell compositions.

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