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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ 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

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

The Chet Set @ Blaydon Jazz Club - June 19

(© Roly Veitch)
Pete Tanton (trumpet, vocals); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

1954/2023, a warm summer's evening, sitting on the terrace with a chilled beer, musicians chewing the fat. Familiar faces strolled in, nodding to other familiar faces, the recently refurbished Black Bull as welcoming as ever. Chet's/Pete's trumpet on its stand awaited the arrival of its audience. The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach is a million miles - metaphorically speaking - from Blaydon-on-Tyne but on a night like this the views from the terrace looking out across the Tyne take some beating. Chet/Pete and the boys sauntered in, the Chet Set was about to begin.

(© Russell)
Chet Baker 'tribute acts' must be ten a dime, in the case of Pete Tanton's Chet Baker homage, our man has one up on many, he's from Alabama, USA! The accent does it, the trumpet playing too, if you're into West Coast cool, Pete's your man. The More I See YouI Fall in Love Too Easily, we were listening to mid-fifties' Chet Baker. Along for the ride (Chet's/Pete's Cadillac was parked up outside the Black Bull) were buddies Alan Law, Mick Shoulder and John Bradford. They ain't American but, being jazz cats, they too possess their share of 'cool'. A short, one verse take on I Get Along Without You Very Well then But Not for Me closed out a fine first set.

(© Roly Veitch)
Let's Get Lost (Alan Law playing typically 'Alan Law' tension and release piano) resumed affairs, My Funny Valentine had to be in the set list and it was. Pete recently confided that until recently he hadn't sung the number in public (excellent trumpet playing on this one). Just Friends summed up the evening. The John Klenner/Sam M Lewis number has been performed countless times at jazz clubs up and down the land, including here at Blaydon Jazz Club. And to close, another chart often played and sung right here in the Black Bull lounge, Look for the Silver Lining. From Roly Veitch (Blaydon Jazz Club) to Pete Tanton, the music of Chet Baker lives on.      
  
The Chet Set has been well received across the region and, with dogged determination and a bit of luck, Pete and the guys could well realise the dream of taking it on the road - London, New York, West Coast... Russell
            
Set list: The More I See YouI Fall in Love Too EasilyThere Will Never Be Another YouYou Don't Know What Love IsMy BuddyThat Old FeelingI Get Along Without You Very WellBut Not for MeI Remember YouLet's Get LostMy Funny ValentineTime After TimeJust FriendsIt Could Happen to YouLook for the Silver Lining. 

2 comments :

Roly said...

For anyone who doesn't already know - the river just here was where Blaydon Island (aka Dent's Meadow) was situated. On this large island was held the Blaydon Races in it's heyday (1861 - 65). The island, along with others downriver at Dunston (Big Annie, Little Annie) were removed by the Tyne Improvement Commission in the 1870s, along with dredging work and 'improvements' to river banks. All for improved navigability to enable heavy goods transportation by bigger boats. The Races were revived up river at Stella Haugh in the 1880s and lasted till 1916. The Commission's work along with the growth of the railways and the building of large timber staiths signalled the end for the legendary keelmen. They had plied their trade on the river for hundreds of years. PS. I've heard there was actually a pub on Great Annie. Presumably drinkers boated across or maybe swam over in their determination to have a nice pint.

Roly said...

To correct myself, the larger island was King's Meadow not Big Annie. The pub on the island was Countess of Coventry.

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