Total Pageviews

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

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.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs 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.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Dave Weisser Memorial Fundraiser @ the Globe - Oct. 11

(© Sheila Herrick)
Alan Glen Trio: Alan Glen (piano); Andy Champion (bass); Sid White   (drums)

The trio were flying with Alan proving that age is no handicap. If you've got it you've got it and boy has he got it! A swinging Four was followed by a contemplative How Deep is the Ocean? with a fast Cherokee completing their all too short set. Andy Champion was, as always, a tower of strength with Sid White driving things along. The bench mark had been set - follow that if you can!


© Sheila Herrick)
Lewis Watson Quartet: Lewis Watson (tenor sax); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (bass); John Bradford (drums)

Not many could follow that but Lewis Watson isn't just anyone. When it comes to playing saxophone he scares the pants off most of his contemporaries and tonight he was sizzling. Combine him with Mark Williams, John Bradford and Andy Champion, who was having a busy night, then you have a dream team. Wayne Shorter's Yes and No, Lewis' own Times Past and A Song For Keith  (Morris) made up the half hour set. However, if you need to hear more of this ace quartet they're back on Sunday Nov. 6. One for the diary oh and, er, thanks for the name-check it did my street-cred no harm at all!

© Sheila Herrick)
Zoë Gilby Quartet: Zoë Gilby (voice); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (bass); John Bradford (drums)

Mark, Andy and John stayed on stage where they were joined by Zoë. This made for a quick turnaround which enabled them to slip in an extra number. All four numbers went down a storm. The singer was in good voice displaying quite an amazing range. You'd be so Nice to Come Home to, No Words, Caravan, featuring John Bradford and finishing up with Harry Edison's Centerpiece before Andy left to pickle his fingertips.

© Sheila Herrick)
Pete Tanton (flugel, vocal); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); John Bradford (drums)

John Bradford hung around to be joined by Alan Law, Paul Grainger and Pete Tanton. In an evening dedicated to the memory of a north east based American singer/trumpet player it seemed only right that the evening should feature another north east based American singer/trumpet player - Pete Tanton who actually opted for flugelhorn. It was a nice touch. Apart from Pete's playing and singing another musician in scintillating form was Alan Law. Book-ended by Alan Glen and Stu Collingwood he had to be! With the ever dependable Mr P.G. providing the foundation and John Bradford in control we heard There Will Never be Another You, The Seventh Son and Bridges.

© Sheila Herrick)
Stu Collingwood Quartet: Graham Hardy (trumpet); Stu Collingwood (piano); Neil Harland (bass guitar); Sid White (drums)

The third of the evening's piano aces settled stage left, Neil Harland plugged in and, after some technical hitches in the sound department, they were up and running. In Walked Bud could have been re-titled In Walked Graham who blew on the Monk classic like as if he was on a Blue Note record date with Neil equally impressive whilst Stu too was on the ball backed up by Sid. Nature Boy, a favourite of Dave's whose ashes and other 'assets' looked on approvingly before the set concluded with I Wish I Knew How it Felt to be Free as I left to wrestle with the public transport system.  This meant I reluctantly missed Mo's set which will be covered by Russell.

The evening had begun with a spirited set by the 'Railway St. Irregulars' led from the back by Jude Murphy on bass and voice. Particularly impressive was her vocal on Some Time Ago which came in between There Will Never be Another You and Blue Bossa.

The impact Dave Weisser made on the local scene was testified to by the  musicians and fans who turned out. Just about anybody who was anybody turned out. As for those who missed it please submit your sick notes. Gone but not forgotten. Lance

No comments :

Blog Archive