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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

18037 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 458 of them this year alone and, so far, 36 this month (June 11).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sun 15: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:00pm.
Sun 15: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Hannah Brine Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free. Concert performance (open to the public)..
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00.

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: David Gray's Flextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’.br/> Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. 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

Wednesday, February 01, 2023

Rossano Sportiello's Manhattan Blue Serenaders + 2: Live at the Flat, # 88 - Jan. 31

Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet); Evan Christopher (clarinet); Harvey Tibbs (trombone); Rossano Sportiello (piano); Rob Adkins (double bass); Kevin Dorn (drums)

Five of Rossano Sportiello's friends dropped by for # 88 in the pianist's ongoing series of online streams, live from his Greenwich Village home. The Italian's Manhattan Blue Serenaders - Jon-Erik Kellso, Evan Christopher, and Kevin Dorn - were joined for the occasion by trombonist Harvey Tibbs and bassist Rob Adkins. Nine tunes in the allotted one hour, safe in the knowledge that Sportiello doesn't do anything other than tasteful.
The '+2' element of the session comprised first-timers at 'the Flat', trombonist Harvey Tibbs and bassist Rob Adkins. Tibbs spent twenty two years at West Point before retiring to New York, where he continues to work as a freelancer. Sgt. 1st Class Tibbs worked with the Buck Clayton Orchestra, more recently with Vince Giordano's Nighthawks. And what a great player he is! Sitting alongside Jon-Erik Kellso (heard recently at the 2022 Classic Jazz Party) and Evan Christopher, it could be said they were in good company! 

Bassist Rob Adkins wasn't out of place, not in the slightest. And then there's drummer Kevin Dorn, a rare talent. In between the choice selections, our host Sportiello did the talking. The buoyant, swinging rhythm section could cut it on its own, add the horn players and you've got one cracking session. Opening with Nobody's Sweetheart Now, no rehearsal, one number after another, this was a top class NYC session (streamed or otherwise). It's Wonderful (not the Gershwins' tune), Hoagy's New Orleans, and a rousing - when isn't it?! - When the Saints Go Marching In, the Manhattan Blue Serenaders + 2 demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that these guys are NYC A-listers. Russell          

Set list: Nobody's Sweetheart NowSomeday, You'll be SorryMuskrat RambleBasin Street BluesLove is Just Around the CornerIt's WonderfulBourbon Street ParadeNew OrleansWhen the Saints Go Marching In    

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