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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

17,533 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 497 of them this year alone and, so far, 75 this month (June 23).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

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’.

Sat 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Linskill Centre, North Shields. 4:00-10:30pm. Free, but ticketed (over 18s only). A multi-bill, multi-genre ‘Canny Shiels - North Shields 800’ event. Three Kings Brewery on site.
Sat 28: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 29: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 29: Bal Bruch Social Dance @ As You Like It, Sandyford, Newcastle. 12:30pm. Free. Dance event with Hot Club de Heaton performing live (2:00-3:00pm). A ‘Jar on the Bar’ event.
Sun 29: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 3:00pm. Ray McVay & co.
Sun 29: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: Zoë Gilby w. Ryton Choral Society @ Corbridge Middle School NE45 5HX. 5:30pm. £15.00. Gilby w jazz trio & choir. ‘An evening of jazz song for choir’.
Sun 29: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 29: John Wilson & the Sinfonia of London @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Greatest Hits’.
Sun 29: Out Front @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

JULY 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Friday, July 08, 2022

Pete Gilligan & Friends @ the Prohibition Bar - July 7

(© Russell)
Pete Gilligan (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Tom Atkinson (drums) + guests.

It had been a long time since I'd heard Pete and, judging by tonight's performance, too long!

Stopping off at the Prohibition Bar en route to his current base in Laos he played some of the best jazz piano heard at that venue since, well er since he played there when it was the old Jazz Café or 'The Caff' as it was affectionately known. Fans and fellow musicians turned out for what was a truly tremendous evening.

From the opening chorus of I Thought About You we knew we were hearing something special. Peterson, Garner, Bud Powell - particularly Bud Powell - his fingers tripped the light fantastic with a dexterity usually only associated with the above greats. Mesmerised!

Grainger and Atkinson provided support keeping pace even anticipating the convivial pianist's twists and turns.

(© Lance)
The guests added to the atmosphere with Harry Keeble blowing tenor on Softly as in a Morning Sunrise, Impressions and, later, Cheesecake.

David 'Showtime' Gray paid tribute to the warm weather with his fetching attire and acknowledged the political news of the day with Autumn Leaves or should it have been Leaves in Autumn? Abbie Finn was on drums and they had a blast on Anthropology which incurred some agile slide-work.

Paul Gowland took centre stage and blew some wild alto on Take Five followed by that good old jammer How High the Moon.

Interval time, a chance to refuel, then more music.

Alice Grace was joined by Kris Finney on drums and John Rowland on tenor. She chose that silliest of songs Nature Boy and somehow, in the moment, it didn't sound silly. Stronger material in the form of A Weaver of Dreams inspired her to a scat chorus that stood up alongside many of the horn solos.

Minnie Fraser has been off the scene for some time but she returned with Michael Mather on drums for a brilliant Fascinating Rhythm (complete with verse). Less fascinating was Midnight Sun which I don't think quite worked.

Magda Ruta did Lullaby of BirdlandJulija Jacenaite was heard to advantage on There Will Never be Another You and everyone who was still standing took it out on Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.

It had been an evening to remember not least because of the main man - Pete Gilligan. Take a virtual bow - Lance

PS: Not forgetting Paul Grainger who marshalled the troops so efficiently and Tom Atkinson whose drumming was quite revealing to those unfamiliar with his playing.

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