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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

17755 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 76 of them this year alone and, so far, 1 this month (Feb.1).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 08: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 08: Anth Purdy @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. ‘Swing Jazz Guitar’.
Sat 08: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra event. All welcome.

Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

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

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Harry Keeble & Friends @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington - Dec 14

Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

The Forum's monthly jazz night invariably features Acoustic Infusion with one or two guests. This evening the stage was given over to tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble. Joining the Leeds College of Music graduate were 'friends' Dean Stockdale, Paul Grainger and John Bradford. They've worked together in various combinations, including jam sessions, but this Borough Road concert brought them together for the first time as a working unit. Keeble cites Michael Brecker and Wayne Shorter as influential figures and the lure of Coltrane is evident.


Wayne Shorter's Mahjong opened the set in front of what is known as a 'select audience'. Keeble's post-bop tenor playing ratcheted up the intensity bit by bit, tension and release meticulously crafted. Anthropology presented the ad hoc quartet with an opportunity to stretch out. Keeble's upper register breath control impressed on Miyako and all four impressed on a most welcome swift take on Stella by Starlight. Keeble indicated Body and Soul would be somewhat different to the conventional reading of Johnny Green's classic composition. And it was, pacier with a nod to Coltrane. 

Keeble's arrangement of Silent Night came as a surprise opening to the second set, 'Round Midnight was the Ravi Coltrane take on Monk's timeless number featuring John Bradford handling the hip-hop-plus drum patterns with consummate ease. Naima was full on Trane, and the inclusion of Pat Metheny's Bright Size Life as the set closer seemed to tickle Keeble, this being a guitar-less quartet! An encore won, we went on our way with Mingus' Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.  Russell                 

Set list: Mahjong; Anthropology; Miyako; Stella by Starlight; Body and Soul; Silent Night; 'Round Midnight; Naima; Bright Size Life; Goodbye Pork Pie Hat 
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