Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18721 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 585 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 18) 49

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

July

Sat 25: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitgerald. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Costa Café (within Next), MetroCentre, Gateshead. 2:00-3:00pm. Free.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Bright Street Big Band @ Sandhaven Amphitheatre, South Shields. 3.30-5.30pm.
Sun 26: Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.
Sun 26: King Bees @ Luckies, Jesmond, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues.

Mon 27: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: Liam & Shayo @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Liam Oliver (guitar), Shayo Oshodi (vocals).

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Abbie Finn Trio @ Music Dept., Durham University. 9:15pm. A Durham Fringe Festival event

Thu 30: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.50.
Thu 30: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes. .

Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Milne Glendinning Band @ Repas 7 by Night, Berwick. 8:00-9:00pm. £6.00. A Berwick Fringe Festival event. £6.00 (£6.00 wristband access to all Fringe events).

Friday, October 07, 2022

Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music: Helen Anahita Wilson – solo piano

This was the third and final solo piano concert of the Festival. Such a contrast, and all very welcome in the scope of the Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music.  

Wilson recently performed with Shahbaz Hussain at the Lit & Phil last July from which a live album for New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings was produced.  Much of the material from that album was played today with such immense feeling, dynamics and intensity.  Each movement of her hands both on and off the keys was deeply felt and added to the impact of each piece, producing a beautiful range of sounds from one of the grandest of grand pianos (well, in the Lit & Phil anyway). 

Her recent reviewers are succinct yet accurate:

Breathtaking" - The Wire

“Stunning…. absolutely stunning” - BBC Radio 3

“Inspired… refreshment for the ears” – Jazzwise

Wilson’s background makes interesting reading too, her website giving some detailed insight into her musical and lifestyle development. 

When I was three years old, my Dad gave me a tiny little electronic keyboard and a little book of tunes.  I learned all the tunes in the book that first night and I really enjoyed it. But, ten years ago I was diagnosed with an aggressive type of rheumatoid arthritis that went on a rampage through my body.  

These days I run, I take no medication whatsoever, I play for hours and am really happy, really well and feel connected and ‘in the right place.’  The little fire I re-discovered in me several years ago is now big, beautiful, creative and passionately burning. 

My own compositions are what I play best! I seem to be a good baroque player and I also gravitate to composers with rich, resonant sound worlds like Messiaen, Somei Satoh and my old teacher Peter Feuchtwanger.

Having St. Paul’s Cathedral all to myself for a whole week of nightly concerts as musician-in-residence was rather marvellous. I love those wonderful concerts where you just hit the right flow and can hold everyone in a beautiful space together, in communion with sound.”

Well said, following the St. Paul’s performance series, and I trust the feeling was mutual for this delightful concert in Newcastle.  Please come back soon! Ken Drew 

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