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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

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, September 16, 2023

Jeff Barnhart's Hot Five @ Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club - September 16

Jeff Barnhart (piano, vocals); Phil Lucas (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); John Hallam (tenor sax, clarinet); Ed Harrison (double bass); Graham Smith (drums) + Neville Dickie (piano), Anne Barnhart (flute)

Twenty four hours earlier the man from Mystic, Connecticut, Jeff Barnhart entertained a full house up the road in Newcastle with a spellbinding solo piano performance. This afternoon at St Augustine's Parish Centre our virtuoso pianist linked up once more with his Hot Five to present two swinging sets for Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club's loyal following. Barnhart's Tyneside engagement offered up a surprise or two and Darlington's jazz fans weren't about to be denied a similar experience.

A rip-roaring, opening China Boy set a high bar and during the afternoon Barnhart and co did their level best to maintain the highest of standards. It's common practice for Barnhart to sing a few numbers, this afternoon the workload would be shared with trumpeter Phil Lucas. The solo spotlight would rove the stage, picking out Barnhart, then Lucas, John Hallam (tenor sax, then clarinet), Ed Harrison's impressive string bass playing and, up from the south west of England, swinging drummer Graham Smith. 

Midway through the first set Barnhart sprung the first surprise of the day. As yesterday at the Lit and Phil, our American ragtime piano virtuoso invited stride piano master, Neville Dickie, to join the party. Durham-born Dickie addressed the audience, saying the solo piano piece he had chosen to play was, and is, regarded as a 'test piece' for pianists the world over. Cue Carolina Shout. At its conclusion, the applause spoke volumes. A beaming Barnhart suggested they should play a four-hander and so we heard Shine. Remarkable dexterity, perfect timing, our pianists shuffling on and off the piano stool, smiling all the while, bravo! A barnstorming Sweet Georgia Brown, featuring a fine Ed Harrison bass solo, closed out a superb first set. 

Jeff Barnhart travelled from his Connecticut with a suitcase full of CDs. The Darlington regulars didn't take much persuading to make an interval purchase. The phrase 'going like hotcakes' sprung to mind. Glasses recharged, coffee refills, dud raffle tickets binned, the second set was about to begin.

The Barnharts took to the stage. Yes, the duo of Jeff and Anne Barnhart opened the second set, Jeff at the piano, Anne flute in hand, playing Gasoline Rag. Mrs B stepped down as the full band returned to the stage to tear into Lady Be Good (Hallam featured on clarinet). An up tempo Bye Bye Blues followed by Wild Cat Blues (a feature for Mr B), a Barnhart-Hallam duet on Burgundy Street Blues vying for top honours, these guys were clearly capable of playing anything that took their fancy!

To conclude a marvellous afternoon's entertainment Jeff Barnhart's Hot Five went out on Honeysuckle Rose and a rousing It Don't Mean a Thing. Jeff Barnhart will return next year and the year after and the... Russell         

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