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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 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: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ 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: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

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: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde 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: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, August 20, 2021

The Joe Webb Trio @ the Lit & Phil - August 20

Joe Webb (piano); Dave Archer (guitar); Will Sach (bass).

The Nat Cole Trio may have begat the Oscar Peterson Trio but, in truth, the begating began with the Art Tatum Trio who set the formula for the piano, guitar, bass trio that was personified in a series of recordings in 1944 recreated here by the Joe Webb Trio at this latest lunchtime session at the Lit & Phil.

And it was some session! It's been a longtime since I witnessed a standing ovation but this afternoon's was well deserved of the honour.

The hour flew past almost as fast as Webb's fingers circumnavigated the intricacies of I Know That You Know - almost.

However, it wasn't all mere - did I say mere?! - fleet of finger stuff, there were also more relaxed moments such as on that lovely tune Deep Purple. Some of the endings were quirky but, upon reflection, usually logical.

The show moves down the road to Saltburn tonight - if you hurry you could just make it. In the meantime - come back soon*.

Tremendous - Lance

I Got Rhythm; Cocktails For Two; I Ain't Got Nobody; After You've Gone; Moonglow; Deep Purple; I Would do Anything For You; Liza; Tea For Two; Honeysuckle Rose; I Know That You Know; On the Sunny Side of the Street; Soft Winds; Flying Home.

*On a more sombre note, the following insert in the concert programme brought us down to earth:

The 'Friday Lunchtime Jazz at the Lit & Phil' concert programme is funded by you, its audience. Payment at the door on the day and online advance ticket purchases make possible the monthly concert series. The Lit & Phil's understandable response to the pandemic to impose a greatly reduced socially distanced capacity audience at events has had an adverse impact on the series' finances. However, all is not lost. On September 10 there will be a fundraising concert featuring Lindsay Hannon and Bradley Johnston. Their aptly named duo collaboration - Hand to Mouth - presents the music of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass. Lindsay and Bradley are kindly giving their services free of charge. Please support the concert, bring along a friend, a full house would be just what Doctor Jazz ordered! One o'clock start, admission £7.00.

3 comments :

NeilC said...

It was just fabulous , the sheer skill of all three musicians was outstanding . Joe's playing makes some perhaps better known pianists look like they have four thumbs on each hand . It also demonstrated , although we already knew , what a great musician and composer Art Tatum was . I have to echo what Lance has said, it is imperative that people get behind these concerts to ensure that the Lit and Phil can continue to stage them lets hope one of the future ones marks a return of Joe Webb.

Sylvia Truscott said...

Absolutely outstanding….what an afternoon!….Well done Russell for booking such a huge talent…

Steve T said...

I didn't make it to the Lit and Phil but did make it to Saltburn, though not in time for the start and a well earned drink.
WOW. You ain't gettin far with Art Tatum if you ain't off the scale. We were in luck. My Art Tatum phase happened almost by accident and playing through those albums and reading the liner notes I was struck that he didn't seem to attract the same criticism as a comparable guitarist three decades later: that - despite the obvious brilliance - it was all just lots of random notes that didn't mean anything. Then I came across it.
There's a list I came across somewhere on the internet (so it must be right) that had Tatum as the greatest jazz artist ever and while I wouldn't go along with that at all, purely based on musicianship, you wouldn't bet against it.
If we ever get another government that doesn't correlate culture (and everything else) with wealth and privilege, the Culture Secretary should send this band out to every school: to show children what can be achieved, but also to warn them that - despite what they hear on the radio and people on the tele telling them they can do whatever they want - they ain't getting there without hours, days, months and years of hard work.

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