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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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 12: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: King Bees @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.
Sun 12: Dave Bottomley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.
Sun 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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, September 13, 2021

Sunday Night @ the Globe: Matt Holmes' Ari Hoenig Quintet - Sept. 12

Matt Holmes (drums); Liam Brennan (alto sax); Francis Tulip (guitar); Will Markham (piano); James Owston (bass)

Ari Hoenig is probably the hottest property in NYC percussion circles which, in actual fact, probably means the world so to step into his shoes is surely a daunting challenge for any drummer to take up.

That Holmes picked up the gauntlet so successfully, given that he's young and British may come as a surprise to some but it can happen - ask any tennis fan!

The second set of this tremendous gig was based around Hoenig's album Punkbop - Live at Smalls although I'm not sure where the punk fits in although, upon reflection, maybe it is a good description. The bop element is at the core but there is also this free, metal, feel about it suggesting that another jazz tributary is feeding the big river.

Numbers from the album were: Birdless; Lines of Oppression; Dark News; Rapscallion Cattle and Remembering

They were extended workouts that, had they gone on forever they still wouldn't have been long enough. I must check out the original album because, on tonight's showing, if it's better than this then it has got to be one helluva recording because this was one helluva gig.

Five Birmingham based musicians who sounded as if they were at the top of their game but, given their youth, maybe they're just at the bottom of their game. As Dave Parker said in his introduction - I can't wait to hear them twenty years from now.  But, twenty years from now you most certainly will  have to go to London or New York to hear them.

The opening set contained a mix of originals, an oblique version of Stella by Starlight that Holmes retitled as Stella Stars - an amazing arrangement!

Francis T composed the opener, The Brunswick, named after a Birmingham pub,  Holmes gave us Light Music (which was anything but!), The One With the Can (inspired by a former neighbour) and Owston chipped in with Last Song For Charlie, dedicated to the late player bass player Charlie Haden before the set came to a close on Tenor Madness. This was a fast bopper that had cutting edge solos all round. 

Prior to tonight alto saxist Brennan was the only unfamiliar name to me - not any more - any time he's on a gig 'up north' I'll be in the front row. Same applies to all five. Great band.

Once again The Globe and the Jazz Co-op have delivered the goods and, if you were too exhausted after completing the Great North Run to make it in person then be sure to log on to the livestream - it's unmissable! Lance

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