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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

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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.
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: 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.

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, January 23, 2023

Neil Yates Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - Jan. 22

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Neil Yates (trumpet/tenor sax); Tony Remon (guitar); James Owston (bass);  Jim Bashford (drums)

Neil brought a really fine group of musicians with him for this gig and he gave them plenty of solo space. The bass player James Owston and the drummer Jim Bashford are from the Birmingham area while Tony Remon is from London.  Neil, although he was born in Stockport, now resides in North Wales after spending time in London where he was in great demand for recordings and concerts.


The programme consisted of mainly standards with the exception of the opener, Benny Golson’s Whisper Not and Sonny Rollins' Pent Up House. This latter tune is a real finger-buster to play on saxophone and no easier I would think on trumpet but Neil’s rendition was spot on.  


I was surprised to see a tenor sax brought into play on In a Sentimental Mood.  I asked him later what make it was and he said it was a Montreux. Can’t say I’ve heard of this make before but Neil got a nice mellow sound on it. One of my favourite jazzmen is the late Ira Sullivan who I saw a few times when he toured Europe with Red Rodney and he was fantastic on flute, trumpet and sax. Maybe we will hear more tenor from Neil on future gigs.


Guitarist Tony Remon has that Jim Hall influence that I like to hear and his solos were both interesting and melodic. I think I saw Jim Bashford with Nigel Price during last year's Swanage Jazz Festival and I hear he is on the drumming faculty at Birmingham Conservatoire so he is definitely making an impact on the UK Jazz scene. Bassman Owston is already well known having worked with Clark Tracey, Greg Abate and was seen on the BBC4 2018 Young Jazz Musician show with Xhosa Cole.


The next jazz night at the Railway is Tuesday Jan 24 with Paul Hartley Quartet featuring Brian Pendleton. Mike Farmer

 

Whisper Not; Willow Weep For Me; Pent Up House; In a Sentimental Mood; What is This Thing Called Love?; It Could Happen to You; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; Just Friends.

2 comments :

Simon Spillett said...

How do musicians get a gig here?

Mike Farmer said...

The Railway can be contacted by phone 0161 477 3680. or www.facebook.com/railway.jazz

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