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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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, June 21, 2023

An Evening with Steve Beresford: JNE @ the Lit & Phil - June 16

(© Ken Drew)
Steve Beresford (prepared piano, devices & toys); John Butcher (tenor/soprano saxes); Hannah Marshall (cello); Andy Hamilton (interviewer)

The title of a book of conversations between Beresford and Andy Hamilton (author) Pianos, Toys, Music and Noise sums up the evening very nicely which was presented in three parts.


The first set was solo piano by Beresford, who surprisingly, has only visited Newcastle infrequently. Very quickly Beresford showed his musicality and dexterity on the keyboard and within the first minute it was apparent that, in certain areas of the piano's range, the piano was indeed a prepared piano. 

Soon he was reaching inside to adjust and sometimes start various devices, scraping the strings with postcards or wood blocks, plucking and stroking the strings with bare hands, whilst often simultaneously playing notes on the keyboard with varying tonal results before proceeding to incorporate voice-activated toys, and tape recorders playing into open strings, plus whistles ..... all to the overall effect of producing a sonic landscape with a huge mix of textures and rhythms.


Maybe it was a depiction of a piano being hauled over rocks close to a busy beach whilst someone was attempting to play it, but hey, each to his own and as they say, beauty (or surprise and intrigue) is in the eye (ear) of the beholder. But his technique, inventiveness and passion were unquestionably joyous and engaging.


He briefly reverted back to the keyboard before playing the strings directly with his fingers then incorporating more toys into the mix. Overall this solo performance easily showed Beresford’s drive and ability to give a freshly improvised diverse and complex sonic experience.


The second set brought Butcher, Marshall and Beresford to the stage, who played a wonderful set of freely improvised music. Starting off with individual percussive effects, the piece developed with no significant 'leader' as such, just occasional jumping off points thrown in by any and each of the players.  


Beresford spent more time at the keyboard (although not resisting the temptation to make use of the piano lid too!) but still reached in to entice other sounds from inside the piano. Butcher and Marshall both showing diversity and dexterity from their instruments. Again, it was sonically driven. Once or twice there was a near-outbreak of a recognisable tune or riff, but maybe I was mistaken as these were so fleeting, and if so, were well disguised. An excellent set played to a very attentive and receptive audience, which was quite sizeable for a Friday evening in Newcastle, and a great evening for those attending and witnessing such serious fun.  


The two musical sets were preceded by an interview conducted by Andy Hamilton (author of the book mentioned earlier) with Steve Beresford. Not a formal interview by any means, more of a chat which provided the opportunity to hear some of Beresford’s background and reminiscences of playing  with various musicians of varying styles and temperament.  


Beresford noted that whilst free improvisation is often referred to as 'improv'  it is (for him) better termed  'spontaneous music'  since he very much dislikes the casual term 'improv'.  True improvisation is not premeditated, and he enjoys the moments when things go wrong - as is often the case when using electronics as part of a performance. He seems to relish the challenge of finding a way out by thinking on his feet, in real time, whilst keeping both the music and audience engaged. This prompted a quote from Theodore Adorno  'A symphony in which nothing can go wrong, is a symphony in which nothing happens'.  I guess this is where the element of surprise turns into delight!


I find it's always interesting to listen to performers talk about their work, especially in the context of interacting with other performers, or even with the performance space. There is a lot going on which they are fully aware of apart from time itself it would seem, if there is no clock in sight.  Beresford recalls playing in a group, and drawing to a close after playing for some time, which turned out to be just 5 minutes - indicating the performer can be in a different state of mind once fully engaged with the music. He also briefly mentioned there is no pre-planning with other players, there is usually very little discussion of where to start or how it might flow. And rarely thinks ahead of what to play next - it is all in the moment.  Quite a fascinating insight from a relatively short interview and a useful introduction, setting the context for the two sets which were to follow.

Ken Drew

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