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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

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.

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.

Mon 13: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 13: Raymond MacDonald & Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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, January 05, 2022

Emmet Cohen Trio with Sheila Jordan - Jan. 3

Emmet Cohen (piano); Russell Hall (double bass); Kyle Poole (drums) & Sheila Jordan (vocals)

Sheila Jordan is ninety three years young. On Monday evening Ms Jordan thought nothing of walking up five flights of stairs to Emmet Cohen's NYC apartment to play a starring role in volume 81 of the pianist's ongoing series of live stream concerts. As usual, Cohen was joined by bassist Russell Hall and drummer Kyle Poole. Following a sparkling take on Tin Tin Deo, the main man, seated at his Steinway piano, introduced bebop's illustrious torch bearer, Sheila Jordan. 

A smiling Ms Jordan was in her element. Tootie Heath had introduced Cohen to Ms Jordan and here they were, sometime later, revelling in one another's company. Billy Preston's Song of Joy opened Jordan's set, a set which would be peppered with anecdotes and reminiscences from the revered singer's long life. If the online audience didn't already know, Jordan was about to tell it how it was back then, working and hanging out with Bird, Kenny Dorham, Duke Jordan (of course), Charles Mingus, Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln, Lennie Tristano, Barry Harris and countless others.

Ms Jordan didn't require a lyric sheet, just a chair to occasionally take the weight off her feet. The stories flowed, as did the compliments (the Cohen trio touring with Jordan could yet happen - Ronnie's? Sage Gateshead?!!!). Kenny Dorham's Fair Weather (Jordan said Dorham was a great singer!), Jordan's The Bird (Charlie Parker her hero), the trio conjuring a terrific take on Round Midnight and more. 

The entire online performance proved to be one long highlight. However, to focus on two blues (The Workshop Blues and Sheila's Blues), these moments summed up the brilliance of Cohen's ace trio and the indefatigable, swinging, scatting bebop wonder that is Sheila Jordan. Russell

Set list: Tin Tin Deo; Song of JoyHumdrum BluesHow Deep is the Ocean?I Concentrate on YouFair WeatherThe BirdConfirmationLolita; Bird AloneShe Was YoungDat Dere; 'Round MidnightThe Touch of Your LipsThe Moon is a Harsh MistressThe Workshop BluesSheila's Blues.          

2 comments :

Lance said...

A Steinway 5 flights up!

Patti said...

Parker was a good friend to Sheila. He called her 'the gal with the million dollar ears' - and apparently wrote 'Chasing the Bird' for Sheila and Barry Harris. Sheila and Barry were friends as teenagers, and used to hang around in all the Detroit jazz clubs, always looking for where Parker might be playing.

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