Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18721 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 585 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 18) 49

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

July

Mon 20: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 20: Mejedi Owusu w. Francis Tulip Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. SOLD OUT!

Tue 21: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 23: Side Café Orkestar @ New castle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Balkan, Hot Club, Klezmer.
Thu 23: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 24: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 25: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitgerald. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Costa Café (within Next), MetroCentre, Gateshead. 2:00-3:00pm. Free.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Bright Street Big Band @ Sandhaven Amphitheatre, South Shields. 3.30-5.30pm.
Sun 26: Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.
Sun 26: King Bees @ Luckies, Jesmond, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues.

Friday, May 26, 2023

Chris Greive Standards Trio @ Gala Theatre, Durham - May 26

(© Malcolm Sinclair)
Chris Greive (trombone); James Brady (trumpet, flugelhorn); Tom Gibbs (piano)

Trombonist Chris Greive's Standards Trio arrived in Durham with a late change to the line-up. At the last minute guitarist Graeme Stephen was obliged to attend to urgent family business. Joining Greive and James Brady on their journey south from Scotland was the prodigiously talented pianist Tom Gibbs. A near full house at the Gala Theatre was unlikely to be disappointed...

Greive chose to open the set with the Chet Baker/Gerry Mulligan arrangement of The Lady is a Tramp, the horns dancing deftly around the melody, the depping Gibbs, with not a chart in sight, handling the material with consummate ease. Dizzy's Tour de Force was just that, later in the set Bebop tore it up (Gibbs' whirlwind playing, stride patterns, the lot), bravo! 
(© Malcolm Sinclair)
Don't Get Around Much Anymore featured Greive as Tricky Sam, Brady as Cootie Williams and Gibbs as Edward Kennedy, it doesn't get much better than this, stellar playing all round. Our trumpeter's lip required brief respite, so, with Brady taking five, the harmonic invention of 'bone man Greive and the depping Gibbs was quite delightful. To close a most enjoyable hour, Chris Greive's Standards Trio went out on Caravan. As the musicians took a collective bow, the Gala's lunchtime jazz audience went home more than impressed. 

Next month's concert (Friday 23 June) features guitarist Giles Strong's recently formed quartet. Don't hesitate to book (enquiring at the box office all the signs are it's going to be a full house). Tickets from: www.galadurham.co.uk. Russell        

Set list: The Lady is a TrampBrotherhood of ManTour de ForceDon't Get Around Much AnymoreSomeday My Prince Will ComeBebopBunnyCaravan.  

1 comment :

Greivsy said...

Thankyou for the review. It's a lovely reminder of a very fine audience and beautiful day out in Durham!

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