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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

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.

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

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 09, 2023

Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar - Sept. 8

(© Russell)
Charles Dearness (trumpet); Stephen Feast (clarinet, tenor sax); Paddy Darley (trombone); John Youngs (banjo, vocals); Rory Clark (sousaphone)

Prohibition Bar is something of a second home to the Edinburgh-based Tenement Jazz Band. Whenever the quintet ventures south of the border, Pink Lane is frequently a stopping-off point. This evening the band's visit coincided with what was perhaps the hottest day of the year. Window and doors open, beer flowing as if prohibition was about to come into effect, it was a heady atmosphere. 

The upstairs room resembled a mini dance hall, tables and chairs skirting an expanse of floor set aside for the anticipated arrival of a bevvy of Prohibition-era swing dancers. As classic jazz-era enthusiasts bagged the best seats, the dancers took to the floor. Other than frequent visits to the bar, the listeners sat and listened and the dancers danced across not one, not two, but three sets. It was going to be a late one.

Dusty RagAt a Georgia Camp MeetingCopenhagen, the Tenements were in fine form, superb ensemble playing, excellent solos across the band, the whole thing presented with casual aplomb. MC John Youngs did the talking and the singing, not to mention anchoring the rhythm on banjo, in cahoots with the impressive Rory Clark (sousaphone) towering over his all-seated bandmates. Bogalusa Strut with its irresistible invitation to sing along: Hey! What's the matter now? Hey! What's the matter now? Hey! What's the matter now? You better run home and tell your Mama, we were singing along as the terpsichoreans did their thing. 

Second set...Bill BaileyMeat on the Table, a yearning Chocolate AvenueBig Chief Battle Axe (Paddy Darley soloing), it's little wonder the Tenements were voted 'Best Band' at the 2022 Scottish Jazz Awards (see photo). 

Third set, it was getting late but no one was going anywhere, there was more listening, more drinking and more dancing to be done. The Tenements continue to hone their concert performance by gigging here, there and everywhere (Edinburgh Fringe appearances, jazz club engagements the length and breadth of the British Isles, European jazz festivals) and, if you believe them, Prohibition Bar is a favourite venue. BaratariaKansas City Stomp, ragtime-era Kinklets, all delivered with panache and verve. Look at the time, it's approaching Cinderella time! Carriages waiting, the Tenements obliged with an encore. They'll be back, that's for sure and, when they do return, don't miss them. Russell        

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