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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

17985(and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 306 of them this year alone and, so far, 62 this month (April 26).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: International Jazz Day @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £16.00.; £14.00. adv.. Feat. Guido Spannocchi, John Pope & Steve Hanley + Take it to the Bridge participants + SH#RP Collective with Lindsay Hannon - open rehearsal.

MAY 2025

Thu 01: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Member’s Contribution.
Thu 01: Alabaster de Plume @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 01: Living in Shadows + OUTRI @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: The Shayo Experiment @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Shayo Oshodi & Liam Oliver.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Jeremy McMurray (piano); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Mark Hawkins (drums); Adrian Beadnell (bass).

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ STACK, Seaburn. 4:30-6:15pm. Free.
Fri 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:00pm. £7.50. A ‘Nauta’s House’ gig featuring Nauta & guests Shayo Oshodi & David Gray.
Fri 02: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 02: Dom Pipkin @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Solo piano.
Fri 02: Abbie Finn Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00. + bf.

Sat 03: Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Summer Samba Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 03: Struggle Buggy @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sat 03: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Postmodern Jukebox @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Sat 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £3.00. + bf.
Sat 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:30pm. Free.

Sun 04: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 04: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 04: Boys of Brass @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Ben Crosland Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. 12:30pm. £14.00. Tel: 0191 237 3697. ‘Victory in Europe Afternoon Tea’ (VE Day 80th anniversary).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: FILM: Whiplash @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 8:15pm.

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

Saturday, June 10, 2023

Bonnie Raitt @ Sage Gateshead - June 9

Bonnie Raitt (guitar, piano, vocals); Duke Levine (guitar, mandolin, backing vocals); Glenn Patscha (organ, keys, backing vocals); James 'Hutch' Hutchinson (bass guitar, double bass, backing vocals); Ricky Fataar (drums)

Hall One sold out some months ago. As soon as tickets went on sale they were quickly snapped up for a rare appearance by the Grammy award-winning Bonnie Raitt. The American superstar told the Sage Gateshead audience she was happy to be on the road again following the dark days of Covid lockdowns. It didn't greatly matter that during the course of the evening she announced on more than one occasion how happy she was to be here in 'Newcastle'. We can forgive visiting stars confusing Gateshead with Newcastle!

The American's ace band comprised long-serving bassist James 'Hutch' Hutchison (Earl King, Professor Longhair, the Neville Bros., and countless others), drummer Ricky Fataar (the Beach Boys, one of many on his glittering cv), Canadian Glenn Patscha (Ry Cooder and a host of jazz associates including Brian Blade, Donald Harrison and Lizz Wright) and, on this tour, replacing George Marinelli, guitarist Duke Levine (Mary Chapin Carpenter, J. Geils Band, Otis Rush).                            
Material from Raitt's album 2022 Just Like That...featured alongside numbers from way back. The passing years haven't diminished Raitt's vocal power, her famed slide guitar playing was on show, although perhaps not as much as some had hoped for, and, for one number, our Rock and Roll Hall of Famer sat at the keyboard. Made Up Mind from Just Like That...Used to Rule the World from 2012's Slipstream, Raitt raided her extensive back catalogue. Guitar techs frequently wandered on and off stage handing Raitt (and Levine) yet another, differently tuned guitar. Glenn Patscha alternated between organ (a Hammond?) and a bank of keyboards, Hutchinson and Fataar making do with a little less hardware. 

Blame it on Me, Bob Dylan's Million Miles, an excellent Livin' for the Ones from the new album, and several tributes to friends no longer with us, notably Raitt's heartfelt remembrance of John Prine, the one hour and forty minutes' performance flew by. A brief encore, a bow and Bonnie Raitt was gone.        
 
Bonnie Raitt's set list included: Made Up MindUsed to Rule the WorldBlame it on MeMillion MilesSomething to Talk AboutLivin' for the OnesAngel from Montgomery.

Earlier, Bonnie Raitt's special guest on the tour, Gareth Dunlop, received an enthusiastic reception in the rapidly-filling auditorium.

Gareth Dunlop (guitar, keyboards, vocals); Pete Wallace (guitar, vocals)

A singer-songwriter from Belfast, Dunlop was joined on stage by guitarist Pete Wallace. Dunlop spent a decade or so in Nashville, America as a composer (film and television) and performer. Our man confided supporting Bonnie Raitt was a surreal experience, the Irishman a fan since his teenage years. Raw, soulful vocals, Gareth Dunlop won himself many new fans here on Tyneside. Russell       

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