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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

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

Monday, November 14, 2022

Sunday Night @ the Globe: Sam Braysher Trio - Nov. 13

(© Ken Drew)
Sam Braysher (alto sax); Andrew Robb (bass); Alyn Cosker (drums).

Music, and jazz in particular, is a funny old thing. You go to a gig and, afterwards, can't wait to buy the album. Conversely, you buy the album and look forward to hearing the band live. In either scenario the results aren't always what you expect.

Last night was just such an occasion. In March last year I'd waxed eloquently over Sam's album Dance Little Lady, Dance Little Man - the album from which much of the evening's programme was drawn - and enjoyed it immensely. However, there's a difference between listening to something in the comfort of a centrally heated bedroom (those were the days) with the volume and the thermostats turned up and shivering your timbers down some mean streets in a north eastern winter only to find the band were starting late as they were dining in a Persian restaurant - as if there weren't any caffs in Newcastle.

(© Ken Drew)
Hoagy's Heart and Soul, a tune that anyone whose fingers have been within touching distance of a piano knows that the melody can be picked out using only the black notes, had an attractive quirkiness on the album that didn't quite come across live. Nevertheless, once I accepted that this wasn't going to be a put the boot in and cause the audience to holler "uncle" type of gig it became quite enjoyable.

A good selection of lesser known and less hackneyed standards did nothing to numb the senses although the general consensus of opinion seemed to be that Sam's original Pintxos was the standout number of the first set.

Over the past few days I've heard a veritable plethora of saxophone players including the Sax Summit livestream from the 606 and the WDR Big Band album Birth of a Bird  so there were plenty of grounds for comparision and Braysher, who was himself part of last year's Sax Summit, because of his cooler approach didn't lose out.

On drums Cosker was, by his standards, relatively restrained using,  to good effect, sticks, brushes, hands and timp sticks as the occasion demanded. He was also let off the leash on Pintxos and One Note Samba. Andrew Robb, that doyen of Scottish bass players, slotted in perfectly - when does he not?

All in all, a pleasant if not earth shattering gig. Unfortunately, their trip to Iran put my travel schedule awry which meant I had to depart early although not before I'd heard a beautiful version of Some Other Spring. Lance 

Heart and Soul; The Sweetest Sounds; Little White Lies; This is New; Pintxos; This Nearly Was Mine; Walking the Dog; For Regulars Only; Lady Luck; One Note Samba; Some Other Spring...

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