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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

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 26, 2023

More on Janusz Carmello.

Further to my recent speculation re that ace Polish pocket  trumpet player Janusz Carmello, I received an interesting comment and some local newspaper cuttings related to some gigs Janusz did with the River City Jazzmen (now the River City Hot Six). They don't throw any further light on Janusz but they do serve to remind us of what a superb trumpet player he was.

My memory may be playing fanciful trucks but I'm sure that, when he was in town and I was working in J.G. Windows Ltd., enquiries about pocket trumpets would go up the following day! I seem to recall we sold one or two.

Here's Gordon's remarks:  I heard a few years ago that Janusz had died, but there seems to be an element of doubt, if he did there was no publicity. As you know he played pocket trumpet in the Clifford Brown style, but he could also play really good traditional jazz. He came up to Newcastle three times and guested with the River City, courtesy of his good friend Randy Heads, with whom he always stayed. It would be nice if he was still around.

Thanks Gordon, let's hope we can have an update - Jurich would have known! Lance

4 comments :

Hugh said...

Pardon my ignorance, but I read this as a comment on the stature of the player, rather than the trumpet. I therefore anticipated what I thought was a clever gag in your comments about JG Windows!

To my shame, Professor Google has corrected me...


...pocket trumpets, plastic trumpets - whatever next!

Lance said...

My faux pas now corrected! 'Polish pocket trumpet player' not pocket Polish - well spotted.

Roly said...

Our experience with Janusz at Blaydon was similar to Gordon's River City. He came several times arranged by Randy Heads with whom he stayed. Such a lovely player and very popular at Blaydon. I've not heard anything for quite a few years.
Roly

Allan said...

I bought "Portrait" some years ago and I wrote to Janusz via the Musicians Union asking if he would let me know the maker of his Pocket Trumpet. He sent me a postcard saying it was a Benge with "a very large and deep Bach mouthpiece, for a mellow and open tone" and inviting me to phone him sometime for a more informal chat.
I called him and we spent well over an hour talking about horns an jazz.
I know he was an active table tennis player and he did tell me in a later email that he was going to undergo heart surgery.
I really hope that, like Mark Twain, reports of his death are greatly exaggerated.

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