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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

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, July 04, 2022

Ruth Lambert & Martin Craggs @ The Blues, Jazz & Swing Festival. The Exchange, North Shields - July 3

(© The Exchange)
Ruth Lambert (vocals); Martin Craggs (guitar)

The opening set of the third and final day of the inaugural Blues, Jazz and Swing Festival in North Shields. The Exchange on Howard Street was covered in scaffolding, making one wonder: Is the place open? It was and it is. On entering the enclosed courtyard a gentle hubbub could be heard emanating from the bar. Festival-goers were gathering for the first of the day's concerts. Ruth Lambert was about to give a GASbook singer's masterclass.

There Will Never be Another You sang Lambert, accompanied by guitarist Martin Craggs. The Exchange's cafe/bar took on an a relaxed air, a day for reading the papers with people arriving and departing at intervals, others there for the long haul. The cafe's espresso machine displayed admirable timing, perking up just as Lambert began to sing Black Coffee. Irritated or not, Lambert, ever the professional, laughed it off.

If not the debut duo public performance of Lambert and Craggs, it was near enough, damn it. And what a fine job they made of it - Craggs reading the dots, finding his way around the fretboard with ease, Lambert being Lambert, swinging the proverbial 'phone book. A few Latin numbers spiced up the set - How InsensitiveOne Note Samba and Desafinado - and to close, The Lady is Tramp. The 'lady', Ms Lambert, is a star. Russell
                   
Set list: There Will Never be Another YouBlack CoffeeI've Got the World on a StringHow InsensitiveLike Someone in LoveHere's That Rainy DayBeautiful LoveOne Note SambaYou Played on My PianoAll the Things You AreDesafinadoCry Me a RiverThe Lady is a Tramp. 

1 comment :

Lance said...

It was the start of a great day that was the cumulation of a great weekend. Ruth just gets better and better - if that is possible - but, to me, Martin Craggs' guitar playing was a revelation. Some of the most tasteful playing I've heard in many a long session. I loved the way he managed to play chords and bass lines during his solos.
I'd have liked to have seen a few more of the jazz coast fraternity giving their support but that is something to work on...

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