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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

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

Monday, May 08, 2023

Sunday Night @ the Globe: Andrea Vicari Trio - May 7

(© Ken Drew)
Andrea Vicari (piano/keys); Andy Champion (bass/bass guitar); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax)

Last year this very same trio played a sold out gig just down the road at the Lit and Phil  so the portents were that they would draw a similar sized audience to the Globe. Alas, it was not to be.

So what went wrong?

Musically it couldn't be faulted. However, there were probably several contributing factors. The bank holiday weekend, Newcastle playing at home (which is always a deterrent for non football fans) and the decision by the Central Bar just across the Tyne Bridge to move its Monday night session to a Sunday afternoon.

Nevertheless, those of us who made the effort were amply rewarded with some of the best jazz piano heard at the venue since well, er, well since they last played an Oscar Peterson record.

Both women were at the top of their game and Champion whether on double bass or bass guitar does pretty good for a man.

The material was mainly original although a lush version of Body and Soul with some beautiful arco bass from Champion was one of the many standout numbers. Vicari's Get Busy was aptly named. It had lots of notes with Abbie contributing some New Orleans' style parade drumming.

Occasionally, Andrea would shuffle from the house Yamaha upright to her Nord keyboard and the scenario would become more contemporary. On Counting Moments, a brooding, melancholic piece, she played some esoteric sounds that contrasted nicely with her more straight ahead approach when at the electronic upright.

(© Ken Drew)
And, as if all this on its own wasn't enough, we had the added bonus of tenor saxophone contender Harry Keeble sitting-in for Rhythm-A-Ning, Footprints and Straight no Chaser.

During the afternoon Andrea had hosted a piano workshop which, hopefully will have helped spawn a few more jazz pianists aspiring to reach Ms Vicari's heights.

Next Sunday has JNE presenting a concert by Eternal Triangle featuring the legendary free form pioneer Trevor Watts with a support set by Andy Champion on solo bass. Again they will be fighting on two fronts with David  Gray's Flextet at the Central Bar and 20 miles west it's the Hexham Jazz Festival. Hopefully (jazz folk always live in hope) the three events will appeal to different sectors of the community. Lance

Set list included: Golden Gate; Get Busy; Counting Minutes; Body and Soul; Rhythm-A-Ning; Footprints; The Bells of Newchurch; Straight no Chaser

3 comments :

Anonymous said...

Sounds dreary. Thanks for the piece.

Lance said...

Dreary? Oh dear! You missed a treat Mr ?

Keith Barrett said...

Though thanked for, I’m not sure that Anonymous read the piece…. The gig was fabulous

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