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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

Sunday, March 24, 2024

New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - Mar. 23

Steve Andrews (MC, baritone sax, clarinet); Martin Litton (piano); Ed Cross (violin); Alistair Lord (trumpet, cornet); Dave Hignett (trumpet); Neville Hartley (trombone); Jim McBriarty (reeds, vocals); Alan Marshall (reeds); Gavin Lee (reeds); Keith Stephen (guitar, banjo); Phil Rutherford (tuba); Paul Smith (drums); Caroline Irwin (vocals) + Olivia (xylophone); Benjamin (alto sax)

The New Century Ragtime Orchestra is an occasional happening. Two or three performances a year constitutes a busy schedule. As and when the NCRO takes to the stage it pays to be there. This evening at Gosforth Civic Theatre the NCRO played to a full house and no one but no one left disappointed. GCT is a well appointed venue, in some ways an exemplar - level floor throughout, accessible to all and, from the musician's view point, there is a half-decent Yamaha upright piano on the premises. 

Occupying the piano stool this evening, all the way from Hay-on-Wye, master musician Martin Litton. A long-time friend of the NCRO, Litton arrived earlier in the day, later meeting up with Dave Kerr, Phil Rutherford and the rest of the band to run through one or two charts. MC Steve Andrews would guide the audience through the evening's programme with a string of witty observations/asides along the way. 

My Baby Just Cares for Me opened the show, The Ragtime Dance (as arranged by D. Kerr) followed, and onto Doin' the Frog. NCRO supporters old and new loved what they were hearing, quite simply, the band was on form. The presence of pianist Martin Litton added an extra touch of class, the horns were at the top of their game and the rhythm section - stalwart tuba maestro Phil Rutherford, Keith Stephen, switching between guitar and banjo, and pocket dynamo Paul Smith nailing the drum parts - gave a sterling (if partly hidden behind the frontline's gleaming brass) display. 

As the NCRO vacated the stage, pianist Martin Litton played a medley of tunes, the audience mesmerised by the elegance and dexterity on show. Digga Digga Doo, In a Mist...A-grade stuff. Stomp Your StuffShakin' the Blues Away, vocalists Caroline Irwin and Jim McBriarty jousting on After You've Gone (all good fun), Litton's take on Fats Waller's Clothes Line Ballet, the variety on offer helped engage the audience throughout two full sets. Highlights were many, however, to single out one...Dave Hignett (trumpet) and Neville Hartley (trombone) playing Ain't Misbehavin' took the gold medal. 

Young musicians Olivia and Benjamin did themselves proud standing out front, showing few, if any, signs of nerves. Olivia, xylophone, playing beautifully on Whistling Rag and Benjamin playing alto sax on Autumn Leaves (Caroline Irwin singing). The New Century signed off in some style with Business in F (it was the business!), Marbles (arr. K. Nichols) and Goodbye Blues Russell       

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

A brilliant performance by the NCRO in a hall which offered the musicians a chance to shine. They didn't disappoint. Thank you David for bringing this orchestra to Gosforth. To see and hear such wonderful musicians made it an evening to remember. To cap it all, Caroline's version of J'ai Deaux Amours was something special. Please return soon.

George Watt

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