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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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

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: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
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: ???

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

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, March 11, 2023

Pubs, books and smartphones

When taking my occasional afternoon libation as I sometimes do, if I'm not watching one of Sunderland or Newcastle United's strikers blast the ball over the crossbar (I've often wondered if they've ever considered rugby as an alternative form of employment?) I'm usually cosied up in a corner reading a book.

This could be a crime novel by Michael Connolly whose hero Harry Bosch is invariably listening to Art Pepper, Frank Morgan and other jazz icons in between bringing killers to justice and, usually getting laid in the process. Or I could be re-reading Evan Hunter's Second Ending for the millionth time. Then again I could be reading DownBeat, the April edition of which includes a letter from yours truly - just mentioning in passing.

This, I suspect, to the other lonesome travellers, signals me out as an oddball. Reading a book when I could have my eyes glued to a smartphone! It wouldn't matter if it was a previously undiscovered Shakespeare folio or a paperback edition of the Dead Sea Scrolls that I was reading they would still be bemused - that is if they ever took their eyes away from their phones other than to order a pint of Stella.

How did these people survive before the advent of the mobile phone? Life must have been tough back in the day when if you  wanted to ring your wife or your loved one from a public phone you found that it had either been vandalised or, if you did get through, just as you get to the raison d'etre of your call the operator "says 40 cents more for the next three minutes" and, of course, you've only got a nickel or a lousy dime.

At the moment I'm reading Stuart Maconie's 2008 book Pies and Prejudice in which he he takes a Bryson-like look at towns and cities in the north. He doesn't reach the north east until one of the latter chapters which I have yet to read although I'm sure it will be interesting as, having read one of his previous books, Long Road from Jarrow: A journey through Britain then and now, he will have done his homework well.

Musically speaking, although not an out and out jazzer Maconie is clued up on music in general and has long been heard on various BBC (hiss...) radio shows.

Pick up a copy of any of his books and I guarantee it will be almost as enjoyable as listening to a Gary Lineker commentary used to be! Lance

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