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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

Monday, November 15, 2021

Sunday Night @ The Globe: The Blue Jazz Quartet & Miriam McCormick - Nov. 14

Karen Rann (sop sax); Mark Squires (piano); Dave Parker (bass); Michael Howard (drums) + Miriam McCormick (vocals).

The Blue Jazz Quartet don't go for the soft option - their set included pieces by Coltrane, Mingus, Jarrett, Shorter and Ellington as well as a few more familiar numbers that the casual listener could latch on to.

As fate decreed, the last three bands at the Jazz Co-op's Sunday night sessions all had soprano saxophonists in the line up and, by coincidence (and I'm not being intentionally sexist), all were women. More importantly, all had their uniquely individual sound and approach. Not least Karen Rann who, like vocalist Debra Milne and Dave Parker, when not performing, doubles on bar duties. That's what cooperatives are all about.

On piano, Mark Squires - a new name to me - played some choice chords whilst Parker and Howard provided sound backing. Parker's extended bass intro to Goodbye Pork Pie Hat was quite memorable whilst Howard's hand-drumming on the rarely performed rhumba La Rosita was very effective.

It had been a long time since I'd heard Miriam McCormick and she sounded good although I thought I detected a suggestion of nerves on the opening Easy to Love. However, her confidence grew with No Moon at All and by God Bless the Child she was firing on all cylinders. The intonation was good  and the interpretation imaginative.

Miriam returned in the second set for There Will Never be Another You and a great Billie Holiday number - Baby I Don't Cry Over You. Welcome back on the scene Miriam.

Given that this was a last minute replacement gig it drew a decent crowd with all tables occupied - Lance

This I Dig of You; La Rosita; Someday My Prince Will Come; Memories of Tomorrow; Goodbye Pork Pie Hat; Easy to Love; No Moon at All; God Bless the Child; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; Blue Train; Wave; In a Sentimental Mood; Footprints; There Will Never be Another You; Baby I Don't Cry Over You; Smile; Bernie's Tune + vocal encore I missed.

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