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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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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.
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.

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, August 16, 2021

Suzanne Fonseca Quartet @ The Railway, Stockport - August 15

Suzanne w. Wally Davis in 2016
Suzanne Fonseca (trombone); Jim Faulkner (guitar); Ed Harrison (bass); Danny Ward (drums) + Adrian Wilkinson (clarinet).

One of the most popular jazz musicians to be seen and heard at the Railway is trombone maestro Suzanne Fonseca and if you want to get a good seat, get there early because the room is usually almost full before she plays a note! She is somewhat of a legend in the North West and rightly so - she really is an awesome player with a great sound and making it all look so easy, but I daresay it is anything but.

About two years ago Suzanne usually fronted a quintet which featured Wally Davis, an old friend of mine, on tenor, alto and soprano sax who, like me, was a big fan of the great Sonny Stitt.

Wally, I believe, is now living in Glasgow and I hope he hasn’t stopped playing, he really had a handle on the bebop style.  Since Wally moved north Suzanne has been using a quartet formula with the acoustic house piano being utilised so using guitar tonight surprised me but it worked a treat.

Some random thoughts re the gig. Adrian Wilkinson played on Blue Bossa,  Perdido, and Caravan  and stayed on for the rest of the tunes. He is a neighbour of Suzanne's and plays in the sax section of the well-known Syd Lawrence Big BandDanny Ward another Manchester drummer did great stick and brushwork and Ed Harrison played some tasty solos as he always does.  Jim Faulkner is one great guitarist and I have used him myself on many occasions. You may know him from his work with Gavin Barras’s Family Tree Group. 

Fifteen tunes were played which is over average and not one blues!  Mike Farmer

All the Things You Are; You Stepped Out of a Dream; Stella by Starlight; Have You Met Miss Jones; London by Night; Pennies from Heaven; Blue Bossa; Perdido; Caravan/Take the A Train; Out of Nowhere; September in the Rain. There Will Never be Another You; Honeysuckle Rose; Bésame Mucho.

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Great gig! Really enjoyed it.Superb atmosphere

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