Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 2026)

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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

From This Moment On

September.

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

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 Insensitive, One 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 You; Black Coffee; I've Got the World on a String; How Insensitive; Like Someone in Love; Here's That Rainy Day; Beautiful Love; One Note Samba; You Played on My Piano; All the Things You Are; Desafinado; Cry Me a River; The Lady is a Tramp. 
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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...

Monday, July 04, 2022 7:50:00 pm

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