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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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: ???

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, May 03, 2023

A Tale of Two Jams @ the Black Swan and elsewhere - May 2

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Michael Mather (drums) + Steve Summers (soprano sax); Paul Gowland, Luis Verde, Haaruun Miller, Esther Coombes (alto saxes); John Rowland (tenor sax); Edgar Bell (trumpet); David 'Showtime' Gray (trombone/vocals); ? (guitar); John Pope, Owen ? (bass); Kris Finney, Val ?, Adam ?, Freddie Richards, Sid White (drums); Kate O'Neill, Jan Spencelayh, Roger ?, Minnie Fraser (vocals)

The house trio kicked off with a number they thought was Bud Powell's Buster Rides Again and it probably was. Alan Law, wearing some cool threads looked sharp as a tack on piano. On bass, Paul Grainger was at the other end of the sartorial scale whilst Michael Mather, looking as if he'd just returned from Hawaii or some other Geordie outpost, was somewhere in the middle.

Who Can I Turn to? and My Silent Love followed. They'd set the musical bar high for the jammers waiting in the wings.

First to answer the call was Paul Gowland. Paul elected to play his Conn underslung  alto this week and impressed on Chucho and Autumn in New York. More saxist activity when Steve Summers and John Rowland locked horns on Days of Wine and Roses which was like night and day compared to their next number which just happened to be Night and Day.

Time for a switcheroo in the form of Kris Finney on drums, Luis Verde on alto and the first of the singers Kate O'Neill who opted for That Ole Devil Called Love and God Bless the Child. Some dazzling alto from Luis.

Senor Verde stayed on stage for Beatrice, a rendition that could have been subtitled Beat That.

More changes. David Gray joined Jan for Wave with one Freddie on drums. Fine and Mellow saw Edgar (sensibly muted) and Haaruun the third alto to show. 

Roger Jones, a visitor from the valleys or maybe elsewhere sang All of Me aided and abetted by Gowland and Gray. I'm in the Mood For Love was rather approximate although John Pope and Val, a seriously fine drummer man, gave it a lift. I must confess I'm guessing at Roger's surname but he is from Wales...

Minnie took over the mic and an excellent guitarist allowed Alan Law to escape for a cigarette fix. Darn That Dream worked well although Love me or Leave me was a bit too fast for my liking. Nevertheless, it allowed 'Showtime' to quote in its entirety Lullaby of Birdland - presumably one of Love me or Leave me's contrafacts.

Another drummer - a man called Adam - took over for Senor Blues, the first vocal of the evening from David.

However, the clock was ticking and, mindful that some 10,000 enraptured souls would soon be leaving the Bublé concert and heading for the Metro I left before the final numbers, which I'm told, included Esther leading the line on Mr PC and a whole host blowing On Green Dolphin Street.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) I'd waited a little too long and although I  got onto the train I found myself jammed (hence the title) amid a carriage full of Bubléttes. There was a heady aroma of perfume, alcohol and wet knickers in the air which wasn't entirely unpleasant.

I was only onboard for one stop but it was an experience! As I got off one of the more attractive ones said "text me the morra". I just made that last bit up but, if I'd been 40 years younger or she'd been 40 years older she may have done! Lance

1 comment :

Bruce Bax (on F/b) said...

Enjoyed it so much last night. So many Jazz Caff regulars it felt like being transported back the best part of 15 years. Including your good self Lance. These are all great, thanks to Paul but that really felt like a golden one. Thanks to all concerned!

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