Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Friday, June 21, 2024

Alan Barnes Salutes Wally Fawkes @ the Lit & Phil - June 21

© Patti
Alan Barnes (clarinet); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax)

The first time I heard Alan Barnes he was blowing alto sax with Tommy Chase's hard bop quartet back in 1986. This lunchtime he was on clarinet in a tribute to Wally Fawkes who would have been 100-years-old this very day.

It would be difficult to conjure up two more contrasting extremes but jazz is a big river and Barnes is one of those rare fish who is never out of the water whatever the prevailing tide. Even the ringing of a member of the audience's mobile didn't faze him!

Backed by the outstanding Dean Stockdale Trio - stars in their own right -, the clarinettist captured to perfection the spirit of the man whose centennial we were celebrating. Although Barnes' tone is more DeFranco than that of Fawkes' early idol Sidney Bechet it didn't lesson the impact of his playing one iota. 

© Patti
The sixty minutes didn't seem like an hour - the set just flew by. Barnes, as always, played the court jester in between tunes even referring to myself as 'his Boswell' when he observed me taking copious notes! 

The set comprised Fawkes' originals: Closing Time; Whatever Next?*; Trog's Blues* and The Sweeper. A couple of Bechet's: Moulin à Café (a.k.a. The Coffee Grinder) and  Si Tu Vois Ma Mere as well as two standards: As Long as I Live and Isham Jones' Spain - not to be confused with the Chick Corea tune of the same name.

It was a great afternoon and I had a spring(ish) in my step as I emerged from the historic library into the glorious sunshine. After the music the sun wouldn't have dared to do anything but shine. Paradoxically, after six months of awful weather folks are now complaining about the heat - some people...

*Harry Keeble sat in on tenor for a couple of numbers impressing everyone. 'Boz'

at

1 comment :

Alan Barnes said...

Thanks for this!

I had a lovely afternoon and it was great to see you

Saturday, June 22, 2024 12:57:00 pm

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive