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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. 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, May 31, 2023

JATP

Mosaic Records have, seemingly, released a ten CD boxed set of live recordings from  Norman Granz's legendary live jam sessions that first appeared on his various labels such as Clef, Norgram and, the last surviving one, Verve.

They've had favourable reviews in all the jazz mags - unlike, back in the day, when they were dismissed as 'rabble rousing extravaganzas. This, they undoubtedly  were and I for one wasn't complaining!

It was jazz excitement that has never been surpassed and, had it been pursued further, may have served to repel the invasions from Memphis and Liverpool.

However, the first chink in the armour for me came when JATP played Newcastle City Hall in 1958. It was their first British tour and had the mouthwatering contingent of, amongst others, Stan Getz, Sonny Stitt, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge and, of course, Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald who relegated the others to the supporting act which was okay but it wasn't the wild, may the best man win, concert I'd expected.

Jam sessions just weren't what they used to be.

Nevertheless, although Mosaic in their wisdom didn't send a review copy to BSH I do have thirteen JATP albums (some of them doubles), several CDs and maybe one or two that Mosaic didn't get their paws on.

Still, it's good that these historical moments are once again available. Shavers and Eldridge slugging it out, McGhee and Killian doing likewise. Flip Phillips and  Illinois blowing as if it was the Thriller in Manila. Buddy and Gene making like the Rumble in the Jungle. Why do I use these boxing terms?  Because these were champions putting  their titles on the line. If you doubt me, listen to Nat Cole (he had yet to be crowned) and Les Paul (he had yet to invent the Gibson guitar that bore his name) trading blues choruses. This was what jam sessions were all about. Christians thrown to the lions and the crowd roaring their approval at every riff, honk and squeal from the protagonists.

Of course it wasn't all Wham! Bang! Thank you Mam! There were ballad medleys, some contrasting solos by Charlie Parker and Willie Smith, Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins and of course Ella and Billie although it was only years later when they appeared on a JATP album - Granz knew who his meal tickets were and he issued their discs later.

So, whilst I haven't heard the Mosaic ten CD set, and I'm sure it will be great, in the meantime I've got all those long players to catch up on - where do I start? Lance

PS: Maybe the popular Black Swan jam could do a special one off where a select group of players throw their hats and their reputations into the ring for a good old fashioned slugfest. Maybe in between the normal jams and held downstairs with an admission fee - just a thought ...

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