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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

18037 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 458 of them this year alone and, so far, 36 this month (June 11).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sat 14: Mr Wilson’s Second Liners @ Northumberland Miners’ Picnic, Woodhorn Museum, Ashington. 10:00am-5:00pm. Free. At intervals during the day.
Sat 14: Spanish City Rollers @ The Brae, Cullercoats. 11:00am & 1:00pm. Free. A Cullercoats Festival event.
Sat 14: Front Porch Three + Hoodoo Blues swing dance workshop @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 3:30pm. A Cullercoats Festival event.
Sat 14: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tynedale Beer & Cider Festival, Tynedale Rugby Club, Corbridge. 4:15-5:30pm.
Sat 14: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 14: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 14: Eva Fox & Steve Chambers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 15: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:00pm.
Sun 15: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Hannah Brine Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free. Concert performance (open to the public)..
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00.

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00..
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’..
Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. .
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

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, June 12, 2023

Album review: Terry Gibbs Legacy Band - The Terry Gibbs Songbook

Scott Hamilton, Harry Allen,  tenor saxes); Danny Bacher (vocals); Mike Gurrola (bass); Gerry Gibbs (drums); Terry Gibbs (2 finger piano, vocals on tk 4).Tom Ranier (piano/ tenor sax)

Terry Gibbs will be remembered as one of the all-time great vibraphonists. Those of us who were privileged to hear him with Buddy DeFranco at Caedmon Hall will testify to that. However, one of his lesser known talents is that of a songwriter which this beautiful album puts to rights,

The 98-year-old  'youngster' has finally come up with an album showcasing 15 of his many compositions. Every track's a gem helped along by words from such lyricists as Michael Dees, Arthur Hamilton, Bobby Troup, Steve Allen and Jerry Gladstone. Move over George, Ira and co.

Danny Bacher connects the words and the music making it swing like nobody's business whilst still bringing in the romanticism of Nina or the thwarted expectations of I Can Hardly Wait For Saturday Night. Everyone has had a 'Nina' in their life and, likewise, experienced the frustrations of Saturday nights that didn't turn into Sunday mornings!

Vocals aside, the pairing of the two top mainstream tenors of today is truly the icing on the cake. Allen and Hamilton blow laid back, relaxed, tenor that is as close to perfection as you'll ever get. Gibbs played in Woody's Third Herd along with Zoot, Stan and Al so he knew exactly what he wanted. Tom Ranier also blows some tenor but his main contribution is on piano backed up by Gurrola and Gibbs, the younger.

Now's the Time to Groove is quite hilarious. It name-checks many of the great modern jazzmen with some hilarious interjections from Terry Gibbs who also plays some two-fingered piano à la Hamp. Another front runner for those of us 'who know' to check out. Lance

Available via the usual online snake oil salesmen.

Let's Go to Rio; Those Eyes. Those Lips. That Nose. That Face. That Girl; I Was Loved; The House That Might Have Been; Nina; I Can Hardly Wait For Saturday Night; If I Were You; Play and Sing; Lonely Days; And That' s Why They Call it the Blues; Say Goodbye; Stay With me Tonight; If I Knew Then; Sweet Young Song of Love.

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