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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

Sunday, February 12, 2023

New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Kings Hall, Newcastle - Feb. 11

(© Russell)
Steve Andrews (MC, alto sax, clarinet, vocal); Jim McBriarty (alto/sop sax, clarinet, vocals); Alan Marshall, Gavin Lee (reeds); Alistair Lord, Dave Hignett (trumpet); Neville Hartley (trombone); Ed Cross (violin); Ian Wynne (piano); Phil Rutherford (tuba); Keith Stephen (guitar, banjo); Abbie Finn (drums);  Caroline (vocals) + Mark Wallace (intermission piano).

King's Hall in the heart of Newcastle University, was a new venue for the NCRO. A quite magnificent setting, the walls bedecked with portraits of key figures from the uni's past and an in tune Steinway grand piano. The portents looked good.

However, there was a downside. Because of the high ceiling which wouldn't have been out of place in the Sistine Chapel, the acoustics left something to be desired which meant the balance wasn't as good as it normally is with this band and, more importantly, the punchlines to Steve Andrews' humourous introductions sometimes disappeared into the ether. Also, with the absence of a concert hall stage, it meant that unless you had a front row seat or were a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, you viewed the band through a forest of heads and shoulders.

(© Russell)
Apart from that, the music was great and the band were on form. A special mention for Abbie Finn who, with only a minimum of rehearsal, read the drum parts to perfection and Ian Wynne excelled on his piano features - A Handful of Keys and  Ragtime Nightingale. That other nightingale, Caroline, captured the feel of 'The Jazz Age' as did 'boy' vocalist McBriarty who wore a straw boater and also blew an assortment of reed instruments. Marshall and Lee swung and front man Andrews, when not giving chapter and verse to each number - all 25 of them! - made occasional contributions on alto and clarinet as well as adding his vocal chords to Because My Baby Don’t Mean Maybe Now. 

(© Russell)
Lord played lead, Hignett took the solos and Hartley had some effective trombone moments. Cross fiddled and Rutherford tamed the tuba as well as dimming the lights and handing out raffle prizes. 

During the interval whilst most were at the bar ordering bathtub booze, Mark Wallace played mighty fine piano. Hope to hear him again sometime.

A most enjoyable evening. Lance 

Zulu Wail; Sunburst Rag: Guilty; Oh Gee Georgie; A Blues Serenade; A Handful of Keys; Sweeping The Clouds Away; The Yale Blues; A Precious Little Thing Called Love;  Just An Hour Of Love; Swamp Fire; Variety Stomp; Palestina; Ain’t That A Grand And Glorious Feeling; Get Out And Get Under The Moon; You’d Be Surprised; Ragtime Nightingale; If Could Be With You One Hour Tonight; J’attendrai; Because My Baby Don’t Mean Maybe Now; Marbles; I’ll See You In My Dreams; Goodbye Blues.

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