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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

Monday, March 25, 2024

Luis Verde @ Queen's Hall, Hexham - March 24

Luis Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums)

Luis Verde has become a familiar figure at Newcastle Arts Centre's twice monthly Black Swan jam session. Last week alto saxophonist Verde made his long-awaited regional concert debut. That was at the Globe in Newcastle, this afternoon Verde was the guest of Jazz at Queen's Hall. A few miles west of Newcastle, Hexham's jazz fans turned out in force to hear for themselves what all the fuss was about. Would they be impressed? 

Joining Verde in the library within Queen's Hall were guitarist Joe Steels, bassist John Pope and drummer John Hirst. JP was on Verde's gig last week at which it was apparent there was a musical rapport. Steels had heard what Verde could do at the aforementioned Black Swan, for John Hirst this was to be a new experience. 

The set list for Luis Verde's debut Newcastle performance comprised numbers by Thelonious Monk and a raft of original compositions, here at Queen's Hall it would be original material all the way (Steels and Pope contributing compositions of their own). Alto sax playing of the highest standard, would Messrs Steels, Pope and Hirst be able to keep up? Were they on the same wavelength? Soweto Kinch has long-since engaged an audience, it would appear Luis Verde is winning an audience right here in the north east of England. Dynamic, propulsive, wholly convincing, Luis Verde is, as they say, 'the real deal'! The applause here in Queen's Hall suggested more than a few 'got' what he was doing. 

Verde's Infinita and Pope's A Processions of Heads hit the heights, as did the entire set. Their facility, indeed their understanding of Verde's music and his approach to music-making, is credit to Steels, Pope and Hirst, this was some performance, individually and collectively. Luis Verde's next scheduled concert appearance is on Friday 19 July at the Lit and Phil in Newcastle. The word is, very few seats remain available. To secure your seat for a one o'clock start, call the Lit & Phil now on 0191 232 0192. Russell         

1 comment :

Chris Kilsby said...

This was quite a remarkable session : I couldn't really get my head round this happening >in Hexham<, not some concert hall or jazz club in a major European city of culture. From Luis' workouts on standards at the Black Swan I knew he could blow, but this showed what he does when he gets to choose/write on a more progressive canvas. Talk about hitting the heights, Luis' playing defied gravity and headed into space, with the band cutting loose alongside. If his talented crew of like-minded cosmonauts can fly like this after one rehearsal, I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next - bring it on!

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