Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 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

19,105 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 969 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Nov. 14) 39.

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

November

Sun 15: Lianne Carroll: Jazz Vocal Weekend Workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 9:30am-5:00pm. Day 2/2. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe. 7:00pm. £48.18 (to include dinner); £17.43 (concert only).
Sun 15: Sarah Gillespie & Chris Montague @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sun 15: Liane Carroll @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Solo performance. SOLD OUT!

Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Jacob Egglestone, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.
Tue 17: Grammy Season (Laubrock/Seabrook/Lovato/Rainey) @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm. JNE.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 19: Papa G’s Troves @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 19: Marina Josephina @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £10.60; £10.60.; £8.50 Early Bird.

Fri 20: Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion: The Music of Duke Ellington @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Customs House Big Band @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.

Sat 21: Pete Tanton Duo @ Awesome Frank’s, West Jesmond Metro Station, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £8.00.
Sat 21: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Westovian Theatre, South Shields. 7:30pm. £18.00.

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

James Birkett & Bradley Johnston @ Blaydon Jazz Club - March 18

(© Roly Veitch)
James Birkett (guitar); Bradley Johnston (guitar)

Emerging from winter hibernation, Blaydon Jazz Club hit the ground running with a welcome return visit by master guitarists James Birkett and Bradley Johnston. This being Blaydon Jazz Club's 40th anniversary year, JB thought it a good idea to present a selection of new tunes, new to our guitar duo, that is. 

Several of our duo's compositions would feature during the course of the evening alongside a selection of standards written by the likes of Frank Loesser, Charlie Parker, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Frederick Loewe and Hoagy Carmichael. JB's Who's Blues? opened the first of two sets. Birkett and Johnston's tutor - student relationship has long since evolved into a guitar partnership of equals which was clearly demonstrated here at the Black Bull. 

An attentive audience appreciated every nuance of their performance, a performance of elan, panache, call it what you will. The word 'telepathic' sprung to mind as first one, then the other, set about constructing an immaculate solo, the other supplying first class rhythmic accompaniment. Scarcely a nod and their roles would be reversed. BJ's Moving brought to mind Harold Arlen's Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, JB's Skating in Bryant Park owed something to John Lewis' Skating in (nearby) Central Park and Bird's My Little Suede Shoes tore it up, great playing! 

Second set more of our duo's original compositions, including JB's Betty Boop and BJ's A Trip Down Memory Lane, sat comfortably alongside Jobim's Don't Ever Leave Me and Frederick Loewe's Almost Like Being in Love. It has been known for our dynamic duo to go out on Chick Corea's Spain. In the spirit of presenting a wholly different set, this evening's showstopper was Ellington's Caravan. Simply tremendous. The applause led to a well-deserved encore...The Nearness of You. 

April's Blaydon Jazz Club concert features drummer Russ Morgan's new quartet. The date for your diary is Monday 15th, eight o'clock start, a mere eight pounds at the door. See you there. Russell                   

Set list: Who's Blues?; I've Never Been in Love Before; Moving; Skating in Bryant Park; My Little Suede Shoes; Miss You; Betty Boop; A Trip Down Memory Lane; Don't Ever Leave Me; Almost Like Being in Love; Sophisticated Lady; Caravan; The Nearness of You.  
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