Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Sunday, March 19, 2023

The Raible/Gradischnig Quintet play the music of Elmo Hope @ Gala Theatre Durham - March 17

(© Malcolm Sinclair)

Steve Fishwick (trumpet, flugelhorn); Herwig Gradischnig (tenor sax); Claus Raible (piano); Giorgos Antoniou (bass); Matt Home (drums)

A beautiful spring day in Durham, the Gala Theatre studio space sold out and rightly so. This was an outstanding concert paying tribute to the inspirational music of Elmo Hope and celebrating what would have been his centenary. 

From the very first number, So Nice (Trippin'), we knew we were in for a special gig with musicians who have been touring and playing music they love throughout the UK and Europe.

(© Malcolm Sinclair)
Manchester born Steve Fishwick introduced his fellow band members who hail from Germany, Claus Raible, from Vienna, Herwig Gradischnig, from Greece, and now  a resident of Basel Switzerland, Giorgos  Antoniou along with ace UK drummer  Matt Home from Huddersfield. 

Hot Sauce, aptly named, was followed by a ballad - Mirror Mind Rose - dedicated to Hope’s first wife and featured Claus Raible on piano and Fishwick on flugel. Next was a beautiful arrangement by Hope of Dearly Beloved by Johnny Mercer and Jerome Kern, the only piece not composed by Hope.

Stars over Marrakesh transported us to the heady delights of the Souks bringing to mind snake charmers, dancers, tumblers and sellers of magic carpets. McBrown’s Galaxy featured Home on drums and Fishwick on trumpet, followed by Nieta (Spanish for granddaughter) and Mo is On.

Albums by this band Searchin' for Hope and Mo is On The music of Elmo Hope Vol 2, both acclaimed by Jazzwise and Jazz Journal, are highly recommended as is catching their next gig.

The Raible /Gradischnig Quintet are individually brilliant musicians, together they soar. Pam

1 comment :

Russell said...

Sounds like a great gig.

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