Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 2026)

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

18445 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 309 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 20 ) 43,

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

From This Moment On

April

Thu 23: FILM: Big Mama Thornton: I Can’t Be Anyone But Me @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 6:15pm. Dir. Robert Clem (2025).
Thu 23: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 23: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 23: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra & Musicians Unlimited @ ARC, Stockton. 8:00pm. £19.00. inc. bf.

Fri 24: Noel Dennis Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. Dennis, Mark Willams, Andy Champion. 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: Trio Grand @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Ben Vince + The Exu @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £14.33., £11.16, £8.00. A ‘jazz adjacent’ gig!
Fri 24: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £13.20 (inc. bf).
Fri 24: TBC @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm.

Sat 25: Giles Strong Quartet @ Hindmarsh Hall, Alnmouth. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Sat 25: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Old Cinema Launderette, Durham. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £13.20 (inc. bf).
Sat 25: ‘Portrait in Evans’: Noa Levy & Alan Barnes w. Paul Edis Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £24.00. Sage Two. ‘Portrait in Evans’. Levy, Barnes, Edis, Andy Champion & Steve Hanley.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 26: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Ni Maxine + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sun 26: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 26: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00., £7.00.

Mon 27: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 27: House of Blues @ the Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £7.00., £5.00. advance. A student-led jazz session. ‘House of Blues’ is, perhaps, a misnomer.
Mon 27: Littlewood Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00 + bf, £7.00. + bf.

Tue 28: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:00pm. £10.00. + £1.00. bf. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Hackney Colliery Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £25.00.

Friday, September 15, 2023

Three pianos and a flute: Jeff Barnhart @ the Lit & Phil - Sept. 15

(© Patti D)
Jeff Barnhart (piano, vocals) + Neville Dickie, Merlin Roxby (piano); Anne Barnhart (flute, vocal)

I can't recall being in a room that was so full of love for the performers. Not least because of the surprises that were unleashed.

Even Russell was lost for words and that was before it all stomped off. Obviously he had inside information as to the treat we had lying in store.

We soon forgot about the weather outside!

The Lit and Phil crowd were out in force as befitted the appearance of America's foremost classic jazz pianist, Jeff Barnhart.

(© Lance)
However, before he set the room on fire, the flame was kindled by young Merlin Roxby with a pre-concert set of ragtime and stride classics that drew applause from the great man himself. 

Barnhart's set was based around the music of Fats Waller and Jeff delivered authentic takes, both vocally and pianistically, on compositions by 'Harlem's harmful little armful'. Add to this the anecdotal stories behind each song and this was everything we expected and more. Oh yes there was more, much more in this elongated hour.


(© Patti D)
Sitting down front was another piano legend, Durham born Neville Dickie who also went on to achieve worldwide recognition in this particular idiom. Barnhart invited him on stage and he played an amazing stride version of Golden Earrings followed by a two piano duet with Jeff on Wild Cat Blues. This was as good as it gets - or was it?

Enter Mrs Barnhart. Anne joined her hubby on flute for Ain't Misbehavin'. The facial interplay was something else as was the lady's fluting and flirting. Anne stayed aboard to sing If it Ain't Love before Jeff took us out on that famous rent party opus The Joint is Jumpin'. I  half expected Northumbria Police to smash down the door but, as it was raining ...

There was a feeling of breathlessness at the end. Not just from a nostalgic point of view but because jazz of whatever era, like the music of  Bach, Beethoven etc. is timeless. This wasn't a concert, it wasn't a show - it was both!

I'm sure next year's return concert will also be sold out and Russell will be saying, "I'm sorry Mr Capone, but you should have booked in advance. Well alright but you can't take your violin case in with you". Lance (Phone camera gave up and I missed getting a photo of Anne. It any one can help, please do - she's lovely.)

Handful of Keys; Keepin' Out of Mischief Now; Blue Turning Grey Over You; Please Tell me Why; Jitterbug Waltz; Ain't Misbehavin'; If it Ain't Love; The Joint is Jumpin'; Wild Cat Blues (with Neville Dickie); Golden Earrings (Neville Dickie). 

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