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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

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

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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