Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 2026)

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

18721 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 585 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 18) 49

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

From This Moment On

July

Sun 19: Brass Boat Cruise @ Boathouse, Elvet Bridge Jetty, Durham City. Departures at 10:30am, 12 noon, 1:30pm, 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £5.00 (all prices + bf). Durham Brass Festival. Various bands.
Sun 19: Jacob Egglestone Trio @ The Bandstand, The Sele, Hexham. 12 noon. Free.
Sun 19: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Bishop Auckland Town hall. 2:00pm. £7.00 (inc. bf). A Durham Brass Festival event.
Sun 19: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 19: Michael Young Trio @ Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 19: Mejedi Owusu w. Francis Tulip Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 19: SwanNek @ The Bandstand, The Sele, Hexham. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Nomade Swing: Dos Guitars Trio @ Twelve 06, High St., Newbiggin-by-the-Sea NE64 6DR. 3:00pm. Free. Luco Allievi, Alessandro Brizio, Mariano Gallizio. ‘A Journey Through Swing, Gypsy Jazz, Soul & Pop’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sun 19: Dale Storr: The Sounds of New Orleans @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Solo piano. POSTPONED!

Mon 20: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 20: Mejedi Owusu w. Francis Tulip Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 21: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 23: Side Café Orkestar @ New castle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Balkan, Hot Club, Klezmer.
Thu 23: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 24: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 25: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitgerald. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Costa Café (within Next), MetroCentre, Gateshead. 2:00-3:00pm. Free.

Friday, February 24, 2023

Jo Harrop & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham - Feb. 24

(© Malcolm Sinclair)
Jo Harrop (vocals); Paul Edis (piano)

As the audience filed into the Gala's top floor studio space one thing was immediately noticeable, this afternoon's lunchtime jazz concert would be played 'long ways on', in other words a portable/temporary stage stood at the far end of the room with regimented rows of seats stretching back towards the entrance. Those arriving early bagged the best seats - ie at or near the front, latecomers occupying the remainder. The capacity audience was there to listen to the voice and piano duo of Jo Harrop and Paul Edis.

(© Malcolm Sinclair)
Jo and Paul are no strangers to this part of the world, hailing, as they do, from the Chester-le-Street area. Now residing in their respective London homes, this Durham date afforded them the opportunity to catch up with family and friends. Cole Porter's I Love You got things under way - Jo in fine voice, Paul the consummate pianist. Dreamsville, the Paul and Kate Edis composition Short Story, the Henry Mancini-Johnny Mercer tune Charade, the set list varied, yet each and every selection seemingly made for Jo's late-night, heart-wrenching delivery.

(© Malcolm Sinclair)
Throughout February, Paul has been busily writing a tune-a-day. A recent request from a member of the audience for a song to celebrate a 90th birthday spurred on our composer-pianist. Paul's birthday present to the recipient, who just happened to be present, took the form of a world premiere performance of Another Day (Happy Birthday the composition's starting point). A nice moment. 

(© Malcolm Sinclair)
The Heart Wants (Jo Harrop & Hannah Vasanth) is something of a signature number, similarly (although very different in terms of tempo and feel), Red Mary Janes and a Brand New Hat (Jo wrote the song with Hannah Vasanth and Natalie Williams). To close a most enjoyable hour we heard You Taught My Heart to Sing (McCoy Tyner and Sammy Cahn). 

Next month's lunchtime concert (March 17) features a top flight European/UK quintet playing the music of pianist Elmo Hope. It's all set to be a cracker and tickets are flying out the door. Russell    
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1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Interesting to see Paul is playing more pop/commercial music since moving to London

Dave K

Saturday, February 25, 2023 2:06:00 am

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