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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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

Friday, July 23, 2021

The Harry Keeble Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle - July 22

(Photo by Russell)
Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

Harry Keeble graduated from Leeds College of Music (now 'Conservatoire') a couple of years ago. The amiable tenor saxophonist has been making his mark on the jazz scene sitting in at jam sessions, gigging with drummer Abbie Finn and now, fronting his own quartet, there is a recently recorded digital download EP to enjoy. To celebrate the release of The Beacon, the HKQ played a launch gig at Prohibition Bar.

The upstairs room on Pink Lane is where the EP was recorded* and it seemed rather appropriate to return to the venue to play music from it alongside a selection of Harry's favourite tunes. The influence of Chris Potter would figure large, as would Michael Brecker, Wayne Shorter et al. You get an idea of where HK is coming from, don't you? 

Opening with Chris Potter's High Noon, the HKQ stepped up to the plate. First impressions? HK was playing with no little authority and steely determination, to his right, the amazing Mark Williams absolutely killing on guitar, to his left, bassist extraordinaire, Andy Champion with drummer Abbie Finn playing out of her skin. Wayne Shorter's Yes and No maintained the momentum, HK's The Glen held its own in an evolving set list, sandwiched between Shorter and Chick Corea (Humpty Dumpty, HK in full flight). The ballad-like intro to Sunken Forest gave way to a rollercoaster ride - Mark and Andy cranking it up, Abbie taking it in and out of a swing time feel, HK all over it. A fine first set.

Second set, more of the same! HK has the knack of taking his time when all around him - Mark, Andy and Abbie - press the pedal to the floor, our man developing his tenor solos with an inexorable logic. From time to time Harry and Mark played lines in unison, Andy roaming across the piece, Abbie spinning plates, the HKQ is one tight unit. More Chris Potter (Invisible Man), Mike Stern's Chromazone (Mr M Brecker plays tenor on the track from the Time in Place album) and Joel Purnell's Red Shift** all contributed to a hugely successful evening. The Beacon is available from Bandcamp, be sure to check it out.           

The Beacon's recording engineer, Ray Beckett, enjoyed a night out, sitting quietly at the back of the room. Harry rightly thanked Mr Beckett for his efforts. Having heard the finished product, The Beacon comes highly recommended. 

** Harry happily name checked Joel Purnell. Mr Purnell is a senior lecturer at Leeds Conservatoire.   
Russell 

Set list included: High NoonYes and NoThe GlenHumpty Dumpty; Sunken Forest; The Source; Chromazone; Invisible ManRed Shift.    

1 comment :

Ken Drew (on F/b) said...

Another live gig !! 🙂 So sorry I missed this launch of their EP 'The Beacon' but nice to have been involved in the making of photos & vids for it. Sunken Forest is my favorite track and well worth checking out on Bandcamp.

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