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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

1803759 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 480 of them this year alone and, so far, 58 this month (June 18).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sat 21: Jason Holcomb Jazz Ensemble @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 5:30-7:30pm. Free. A 'Sunderland Year of Music' event.
Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

Thu 26: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Brass Instruments & the use of mutes.

Fri 27: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Time After Time’.

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

Saturday, July 17, 2021

Mornington Lockett featuring Henry Lowther @ the 606 Club - July 17

(Collage by Lance)
Henry Lowther (trumpet/flugel); Mornington Lockett (tenor sax); Gareth Williams (piano); Geoff Gascoyne (bass); Mark Fletcher (drums).

Tonight at the 606 was extra special - it was  Henry Lowther's 80th birthday!

Welcome aboard Henry.
 
However, before Henry joined the quartet, Mornington gave us 20 minutes of Without a Song. Blistering tenor that was more akin to the Williamsburg Bridge in NYC rather than the somewhat closer - at least physically if not musically - Stamford Bridge. The Williamsburg Bridge, for the benefit of jazz neophytes, is where Sonny Rollins took his sabbatical, practising into the early hours with no worries about the neighbours knocking! Without a Song came from the album inspired by Rollins' nocturnal activity - The Bridge.

Mornington did the Grand Old Man justice.

Talking of grand old men, tonight's GOM truly defied the years playing with controlled fire and increased lyricism. Every note, phrase, subtle nuance that Henry Lowther blows surely has all the trumpet players listening say to themselves, "Why didn't I think of that?!"

The answer's simple - you're not Henry Lowther!

The band, now a quintet, played Henry's arrangement of Ray Bryant's Cubana Chant. This was Blue Note revisited, regenerated, reimagined, re-anything.

Mornington exited stage left leaving Henry to mesmerise us with Some Other Time. Exquisitely melodic flugel playing.

Posers' Paradise was an original by Henry and related to another jazz club although no names were given. The tune turned out to be, as hinted at by the title, a contrafact of Stranger in Paradise. Quite an exotic rhythm that, nevertheless, didn't stop the guys swinging.

Mornington chose Skylark as a ballad feature. The room loved it although the RSPCB may have had a few reservations when Mornington himself was in full flight!

Wayne Shorter's United had everyone blowing like Blakey was in town - this was that kind of gig - but, by this time, us livestreamers had overstayed our welcome but we were given a bonus with a blast on What Is This Thing Called Love? Everyone went for it although, given the pending intermission, I thought there was, under the circumstances, just a bit too much doodlin' at the end. Nevertheless, another great 606 session.

OMG! I've done it again! I haven't said what a super sterling job piano, bass and drums did to make it all swing. My apologies to Gareth, Geoff and Mark - they are the absolute biz!

And there's  another great sax man next Saturday - Alex Garnett! 

Woohoo!  
Lance
PS: An afterthought. Where was the birthday cake? Did that come at the end or, being a small room, would so many candles have caused a fire risk? Just thinkin'...

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