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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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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, July 06, 2022

APPJAG Awards 2022 @ The Pizza Express, Holborn - July 5

(Tony Kofi)
The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group's annual awards were once again presented at the Pizza Express in Holborn, London. The basement venue on High Holborn welcomed many familiar faces (including Jo Harrop, Nikki Iles, Tony Kofi and Nigel Price) and the less familiar, all partaking of the hospitality - beer, wine and, of course, pizza! 

At an event such as this, schmoozing or 'networking' is upper most in the thoughts of many. For some, meeting up with jazz world friends for the first time in three years proved to be an emotional occasion with hugs and handshakes all round. The parliamentarians took to their reserved front row tables, the rest sat wherever there was a vacant seat. John Spellar MP opened proceedings, welcoming one and all, the awards would follow in quick succession. 

Few in the room would be without their favourites, BSH was rooting for those with north east (of England) connections. The first award - Jazz Vocalist of the Year - went to Claire Martin. Ms. Martin wasn't in the house and her absence would set a trend of several award winners being elsewhere (presumably out gigging, a sure sign of a return to 'normality'). 

(Emma Rawicz)
The wonderful Jo Harrop missed out in two categories (Best Vocalist and Best Album), Tony Kofi (pictured) took home a Best Instrumentalist gong (actually a certificate) and two veterans of the scene were recognised for their lifetime commitment to the music, namely Barbara Thompson and Mike Westbrook.

Newcomer of the Year...Emma Rawicz. If you were running a book (betting parlance), Rawicz (pictured) was 'nailed on', a 'dead cert'. And the good news is, the up-and-coming Rawicz is to appear at this year's Newcastle Jazz Festival!

(Debra Milne)
And then there was Venue of the Year. Fine words were uttered by Chi Onwurah MP and when the Newcastle upon Tyne political representative uttered the words: And the winner is...The Globe, Newcastle, you couldn't hear a pin drop! Cheered to the rafters, Newcastle Jazz Co-op's Debra Milne accepted the award on behalf of all involved with the Tyneside co-operative. Debra spoke about the ambition, the dream of opening a community-owned music venue and the hard work of many who helped make those dreams a reality. Resuming her seat, Debra wondered if she did alright up there in the spotlight. BSH assured her she did more than alright!

Earlier, the 'house band' for the evening played a fine set of half an hour or so. Veteran Henry Lowther (trumpet) and Tori Freestone (tenor sax) enjoyed themselves, as did the top flight piano, bass and drums team led by pianist Andrea Vicari. The occasion - a catch-up, get together - meant few in the audience were listening attentively to the A-listers on stage. One assumes the musicians were guaranteed MU rates. And good for them! 
 
Henry Lowther (tenor sax); Tori Freestone (tenor sax); Andrea Vicari (piano); Gary Crosby (double bass); Paul Clarvis (drums)

APPJAG 2023? Here's hoping for yet more 'up north' success stories! Russell
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