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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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

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

Friday, September 16, 2022

Jeff Barnhart @ the Lit and Phil - Sept. 16

Jeff Barnhart (piano, vocals)

Pianist, composer, arranger, vocalist, Jeff Barnhart is all of these things and more and today, in Newcastle, he played to a capacity audience at The Lit and Phil’s monthly lunchtime concert series. This was another in the series that sold out weeks in advance and it didn’t take long to see why.

Internationally renowned and playing jazz clubs and festivals all over the world, Barnhart, from Mystic Connecticut, was both entertaining and informative. An authority on early 20th century piano players, the audience was treated to a selection of ragtime,  stride and swing by a virtuoso player who is witty and personable and who obviously gets a kick out of what he does for a living.  He played, he sang, he whistled and he gave a master class in what it means to be an entertainer. At times his left hand appeared to be just a blur and I couldn’t have been the only one in the audience who wondered at times just how many hands this man had!

Each number was preceded by a short anecdote about the piece and I, for one, came away with a much greater appreciation of the genre such is Barnhart’s skill as an educator.

A recent review claims: “When it comes to talent, speed, versatility, creativity, mastery of multiple genres and just plain entertaining zaniness, Jeff Barnhart stands alone”

The ovation he received showed that the full house at the Lit and Phil couldn’t have agreed more. Sylvia

Maple Leaf Rag; The Entertainer; Charleston Rag, I’m Just Wild About Harry;
Frog-i-More Rag; 2:19 Blues; Old Fashioned Love; Ain’t Misbehavin';, Sweet Georgia Brown plus a short piece (who’s title I didn’t catch ) from a beautiful Barnhart composition Peace Prayer.

1 comment :

Nigel P said...

The review of this gig could not be bettered.

I was especially struck by the value JB placed upon the function of melody in the music of the era under scrutiny, chiming for me with the recent performance at the Globe by Michael Moore.
A very enjoyable way to spend a lunchtime, and my only wish would be for JB to have been given an extra half hour to round out his set list in full and to enable him to dwell a little longer upon each of the artists whose work he focussed upon.
Nigel P.
PS: My apologies to Sylvia for missing 'not' out of the opening sentence on my original post!

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