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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
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: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 5:15pm or 5:45pm (times tbc). Part of the Alnwick Story Festival's music fringe programme: Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ 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 10, 2023

West Coast Octet @ the Railway, Stockport - May 9

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Eileen Guppy (piano); Paul Hartley (guitar); Ben Wilshire (bass); Andy Bold (drums); Gair Carson (tenor sax); Duncan Winfield (trombone); Neil Kershaw (flugel); Simon Reynolds (baritone sax).

Dave Pell (1925-2017) worked as a sideman in many well known big bands such as Shorty Rogers, Gene Krupa, and Les Brown. He also worked in the Hollywood film and recording studios and many famous jazz musicians including Art Pepper, Benny Carter and Pepper Adams passed through the ranks of his octet. As a saxophonist he was heavily influenced by Lester Young but as a bandleader his small groups had a distinct west coast sound.

This tribute band played twenty tunes tonight which has got to be a record for total numbers played at this venue. Paul Hartley did a great job handling the guitar parts but also introduced each tune and proved to be an entertaining and informative narrator.  Pell used the best arrangers for his octet and tonight we got to hear some interesting arrangements by Marty Paich, Shorty Rogers and Mel Tormé etc.


There were two young musicians that I had not seen before at the Railway and they had an important role in the proceedings. They were Simon Reynolds on baritone sax and Neil Kershaw on flugelhorn and I would like to hear more from both of them.


Everyone played their parts well and contributed solos but they were short ones due to the restrictions of the arrangements, most of which I liked. Highspots for me were Mountain Greenery. If I Had You, and Angel Eyes mainly because I just like those tunes! I once picked up a real bargain at a charity shop for  50p which was a CD titled Dave Pell Octet Live at Alphonse's and another bargain buy was from an antique shop in Geelong, Australia, last year which I haven’t got round to playing yet. This was Dave Pell Plays Today's Hits in Jazz some of which were featured in tonight's concert. 


It was pleasing to see a good Tuesday night turnout. The next jazz night at the Railway is on Sunday May 14 with the Dave Lynane Quartet. Mike Farmer


Walking my Baby Back Home; Isle of Capri; Angel Eyes; Working On The Railroad; Mountain Greenery; Cast Your Fate to the Wind; Java Junction; You Are Too Beautiful; Have You Met Miss Jones?; And a Piece of Pie; Tishomingo Blues; Forty Second Street; Six Two Five; If I Had You; Ballin’ the Jack; Shimmy Sha Wobble; By The River St Marie; Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered; One Note Samba; Like Someone in Love

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