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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

Monday, November 07, 2022

Sunday Night @ the Globe: Jo Harrop and Jamie McCredie - Nov. 6

(© Debra Milne)
Jo Harrop (vocals); Jamie McCredie (guitar).

The room was crowded. Theatre style seating at the front, cabaret style further back. All were occupied. I bagged a chair at the last table any latecomers had to stand - that's how popular this gig was, and deservedly so.

I've waxed eloquently over these two artists many times over the years both as a duo and individually and tonight, as always, they lived up to and maybe even exceeded my expectations.

Jo, perched atop a bar stool, Jamie, closer to Mother Earth, gave us a well-balanced mix of standards and originals from her various albums plus a tantalising glimpse of a new album in the form of Burton Lane's Too Late Now which was originally sung by Jane Powell in the film 'Royal Wedding' which, by sheer coincidence is being shown on Talking Pictures as I type (9:30am-11:20am). It's the film where Fred Astaire dances on the ceiling and he and Powell duet on what, at the time, was the longest title ever (it may still be) - How Could You Believe me When I Said I Loved You When You Know I've Been a Liar All my Life?  However, by the time you read this it will probably be 'too late now' to watch the film.

It, Too Late Now, is a beautiful song and Jo gives it just the right amount of emotion aided and abetted by Jamie's empathetic accompaniment.

What a Little Moonlight Can Do had the audience oo-oo-ooing rather like they're incited to do on Minnie the Moocher which, I'm pleased to say isn't in this duo's repertoire!

Of the originals, Red Mary Janes and a Brand New Hat is a favourite of mine but in truth they are all good songs. Jamie's solo feature Night Butterfly went down well. He gets a great, almost unique sound.

I left on Billie's Blues, a song that Jo has probably sung more times than Ms Holiday herself ever did. My departure was no reflection on the performers but trains and boats and planes, not to mention buses, wait for no one. To misquote from the number that closed the first set - it had all been fine and dandy - come back soon. Lance

KEN DREW's PHOTO ALBUM.

I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues; What the Heart Wants; Home; Too Late Now; Lover; Night Butterfly; I Think You'd Better Go; Fine and Dandy; Red Mary Janes and a Brand New Hat; You Must Believe in Spring; Charade; Only Spring Will Decide; What a Little Moonlight Can Do; In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning; I Want a Little Sugar in my Bowl; Take it With me; Guilty/ Billie's Blues.

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