Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Wednesday, November 02, 2022

Some tasty jam at the Black Swan - Nov. 1

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Tim Johnston (drums) + Graham Hardy, Edgar Bell (trumpets); David Gray*, Thomas ? (trombones); Andy Schumm, Esther Coombs (clarinets); Haaruun Miller, Nigel Greenwood** (alto sax); Steve Summers, Nick Gould (tenor sax); Adam Sams***, Jacob Egglestone (guitar); John Pope (bass); Jamie Watkins (bass guitar); Murray Wankling (piano); Kris Finney, Bailey Rudd, Will Pease (drums); Jan Spencelayh, Alice Grace, Dawn Furness, Katri(o)na ?, Alice Grace (vocals).

*David Gray sang and whistled. ** Nigel Greenwood also whistled. ***Adam Sams dueted vocally with David Gray on It's Only a Paper Moon.

What can I say? The above listing tells it all, or at least most of it! There was just so much going on that to give a blow by blow description would probably take me until next week and to single  anyone out would be an insult to the others who poured their heart and soul into it. Nevertheless, publish and be damned...

This jam could have started the night before and finished the day after and still have had people shouting for more. I counted at least 25 who wandered on and off the stage. There may have been more - every time I looked there seemed to be a different drummer.

They came from near and far. From Edinburgh, Tynemouth, Jarrow and other exotic places - even Chicago IL. Yes, Andy Schumm had just blown in from the Windy City which was no calamity and, preparatory to his appearance at this weekend's Classic Jazz Party and after declining the offer of a mic, blew hot clarinet - great sound.

There were singers-a-plenty. Alice Grace, Jan Spencelayh, Katrina, a first timer at the jam, impressed as did Dawn Furness. Last time I heard Dawn was back in 2015 when she sang and played piano at the old Jazz Café. At the time she seemed to be more operatically inclined than jazzified. This time round the balance was reversed and she even made that idiotic song Nature Boy into something special. 

Apart from Showtime's duet with Adam Sams, David also sang, by special request, A Hundred Years From Today. He took it faster than the original Teagarden version which didn't do any harm at all.

The final jam had the potential to be the jam to end all jams. Trumpet, clarinet, tenor, alto, trombone, guitar, bass, piano, drums, voice - all were times two or more. Had the night been longer we could have had some good old fashioned jousting. Ten choruses each and no holds barred - the sort of rumble that made Norman Granz a millionaire back in the heyday of JATP. As it was the fireworks still flew but imagine the Scottish champ Nick Gould slugging it out with Steve Summers who recently went the distance with Dave O'Higgins! Or the slidemen doing likewise...the permutations are endless. 

Next one is Nov. 15 - get there early. Lance

PHOTO ALBUM.

No comments :

Blog Archive