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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: 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

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Tcha Limberger @ Crazy Coqs, London - Jan. 25

Tcha Limberger (violin, vocals); Dave Kelbie (guitar); Sebastien Girardot (double bass) & guest John Kelly (guitar)

In 2016 Tcha Limberger graced the stage at Sage Gateshead. On that occasion the Belgian violinist performed alongside his Budapest Gypsy Orchestra. Virtuosic, huge ovation, quite memorable. Six years on, the Manouche violinist made a flying visit to London, this time in the company of Lejazzetal's mastermind, Dave Kelbie (rhythm guitar) together with John Kelly (guitar) and bassist Sebastien Girardot. The venue? Crazy Coqs...

A first BSH visit to Crazy Coqs, a Piccadilly basement space (thirty seconds' walk from Piccadilly Underground station), what would the place be like? Walking through the door at the ground floor Zedel's Brasserie, the betting was the establishment would command West End prices. Descending the stairs, the place had the look of an Art Deco picture palace. Not one, not two, but three rooms - Bar Americain, a discreet meeting place, to its right, a vast function suite, beautifully preserved/restored, chandeliers, the works, and to its left, Crazy Coqs. 

As at the Soho Piano Bar earlier in the evening, Crazy Coqs offers table service with attendant West End prices. This evening's late set would find Tcha Limberger holding court. A multi-lingual, multi-instrumentalist, Limberger is a marquee name. In addition to being a fine rhythm guitarist, record label boss Dave Kelbie is a fixer of things, in this instance, bringing Limberger to London. Bassist Sebastien Girardot was in town, so too, John Kelly (last sighted by BSH in 2019 working with Frog and Henry at Newcastle Arts Centre). I'm Putting All My Eggs in One BasketI'm Crazy 'bout My Baby, Limberger hit the ground running. Swing era violinist Stuff Smith would loom large (My Blue Heaven and Onyx Club Spree performed with élan), Limberger being a fan and all that.  

T'aint No Use, with its mesmerising cadenza, After You've Gone with Kelbie's immaculate rhythm guitar playing (three decades dedicated to the art speaks volumes), Kelly (another multi-instrumentalist) a fine guitarist, Girardot the quartet's cast iron anchor. Sitting down, standing up, sitting down (often during a single number), Limberger cast a spell over the audience, a showman and a true virtuoso. Django's rarely performed Pour Que Ma Vie DemeureFestival 48 and more, the one set of seventy five minutes flew by, a sure sign of a great gig. And it was. Russell                            

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