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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

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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.

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, April 22, 2024

Sunday night @ the Globe: Art Themen w. the Dean Stockdale Trio - April 21

(© Ken Drew)
Art Themen (tenor/soprano sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax).

In the ten years of its existence the Jazz Co.op - often, like tonight, in conjunction with Jazz North East - has put on many great gigs at the Globe to the extent that it's impossible to draw up a league table. However, if I was foolish enough to attempt that daunting task then last night's concert by Art Themen and the Dean Stockdale Trio would certainly be in contention for a Champions League place, maybe even outright winners.

It was that good!

Thoughts of the 27 bus were banished. I'd get the last one, I wasn't going to miss a single note, chord or rim shot.

(© Ken Drew)
Themen, probably the last survivor of that golden era of British tenor saxophonists spawned by such as Don Rendell, Tommy Whittle, Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes that lead to Don Weller and Bobby Wellins, kept a packed house enthralled. Nobody walked out although, if the gig hadn't sold out in advance many more would have, like love, walked in.

And love was what it was all about. Soloist to band to audience and back again, love was in the air.

Humour too. Art Themen can join those who, in between the serious act of playing can also add a degree of levity. Ronnie Scott, Humph and Alan Barnes had/has it and so has Art. Prior to playing Jerome Kern's I'm Old Fashioned he remarked on Kern's distaste for having his tunes 'jazzed up' and that if there were any strange noises during his solo it would be the composer turning in his grave. Guess what? We heard some strange noises!

However, entertaining as the inter-round summaries were, it was the music that won the day. Good tunes indelibly stamped with the saxist's signature and countersigned by the trio came across as being as original as any original ever did.

Noel Coward's Mad About the Boy is usually only heard in jazz circles when sung by female singers although, as Themen pointed out, it was matinee idol Tyrone Power who inspired Coward's words and music.

(© Ken Drew)
On tenor, his sound and technique seemed to cover the history of the instrument from Hawkins to Ayler, Trane and beyond. He drove down to subterranean depths and soared with glissando sweeps up to where the air was rarefied. On soprano it was what Sidney Bechet may have sounded like if he'd been born 50 years later. When local hero Harry Keeble sat in for a couple of numbers the contrasting tenor styles brought to mind Ronnie, Tubbs and the Jazz Couriers. The boy done good!

In fact the whole band did good on their generously allotted solos and the praise  showered on them by the guest was more than a mere token gesture.

Congratulations to both Jazz North East and the Globe for a memorable evening. Lance

Hanky Panky; Forest Flower; I've Never Been in Love Before; Cheesecake; I Let a Song go Out of my Heart; Mad About the Boy; Country; I'm Old Fashioned; A Felicidade; Tenor Madness.

2 comments :

Ros Rigby said...

Great review and it was lovely to see you there Lance! It was one of those gigs that remind you why you love the music - and musicians like these!

Ken Drew said...

Spot on, Lance. Yes, a fabulous night with great playing together with insighful humour from Art the incomparable compere. The band's interplay was nicely shared, and appreciated both on and off the stage, with the addition of Harry for a couple of tunes making a fine sparing partner for the front man. Altogether a brilliant night, with the added bonus of Neil Ferber (founder and promoter of Appleby Jazz for 18 years) being in the audience too, bringing back memories of those heady Festival weekends, yet still sounding as fresh as ever.

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