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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

Sunday, July 18, 2021

The Foundry Jazz Ensemble @ J's & B's - July 18

(Photo by Russell)
Jude Murphy (double bass, vocals); Judah Grunstein (guitar); Bernie Ransom (keyboards, tenor sax, vocals)

The Foundry Jazz Ensemble came into being from lockdown rehearsal sessions on the Foundry Lane Industrial Estate down in the Ouseburn. Now that restrictions are beginning to ease, Jude Murphy is keen to get a few gigs in the diary. This afternoon's performance in the grounds of St James' and St Basil's in Fenham, Newcastle was one of them. 
On a glorious summer's afternoon Jude, sporting an Anita O'Day look (see photo, nice hat!), Bernie Ransom and Judah Grunstein entertained a sizeable gathering to two sets of jazz standards plus an (animated) oddity. From Clifford Brown to Jimmy Van Heusen to Jimmy McHugh (and Dorothy Fields) to Henry Mancini to Cole Porter, the very names of the composers tells a story...it was quality material all the way. Jude and Bernie shared the vocals, guitarist Judah content to sit in between and behind, supplying some nice rhythmic accompaniment and the occasional considered solo excursion of his own.

Sandu opened the set, volume levels about right, perhaps Bernie's keyboard a touch bright, it can't be easy to get it spot on in the open air, not least with buses passing-by every few minutes! Jude won the vocal stakes with her Portuguese lyrics to Jobim's Corcovado. Excellent! Bernie sang McHugh and Fields' I Must Have That Man in an understated, conversational vocal style. Indeed, on an unexpected rendition of Meet the Flintstones J's and B's audience heard more of Bernie's impish vocals. The Foundry Jazz Ensemble closed the afternoon with Cole Porter's You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To. And so we made our way home.  Russell             

Set list: Sandu; Corcovado; Alone TogetherBut BeautifulJust Squeeze MeNardis; I Must Have That ManThe Days of Wine and RosesBye Bye Blackbird; Birk's WorksMeet the Flintstones; ThemeYou'd Be So Nice to Come Home To.  

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