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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17641 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 915 of them this year alone and, so far, 60 this month (Dec. 26).

From This Moment On ...

December

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington (National Trust), Cambo, Morpeth NE61 4AR. 12 noon & 2:00pm. Admission to site £19.00.
Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Archie Brown & Friends @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00-8:00pm. Free.

January 2025

Wed 01: ???

Thu 02: ???

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: John Gregory @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.

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

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Alan Barnes with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ 1719, Sunderland - June 21

© Ken Drew
Alan Barnes (alto sax, clarinet); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Abbie Finn drums)

A glorious midsummer's evening. 1719, Sunderland's new multi-purpose arts venue ('1719' referencing the year the Georgian building opened as a church in the Hendon area of town now rebranded 'Old Sunderland') has been promoting jazz concerts on a regular basis. Wearside has never been known as a jazz hotspot and it's heartening to see the venue taking a leap of faith.

This evening's concert promotion presented the great Alan Barnes. Following a tremendous lunchtime gig up the road in Newcastle working with the Dean Stockdale Trio, Barnes made the short journey to Wearside in good time for a half past seven start. Barnes' lunchtime Lit & Phil gig focussed upon Wally Fawkes, whose centenary it was this very day (b. 21.6.1924), this evening's concert would be more wide ranging, encompassing Fawkes' Humph association, GASbook material, Jobim, scorching bop workouts and more.

© Ken Drew
Joy Spring
, it's always joyous, and in the hands of Mr A. Barnes, this was 'something else', absolutely blistering alto sax playing. This is why we go to gigs! Whatever company Barnes works in (on this occasion the excellent Dean Stockdale Trio) he makes it look ever so casual, as if old friends were getting together to play a few tunes. Stardust, Jobim's A Felicidade, Johnny Mandel's Emily, varied material, all played with conviction by the evening's star guest and the 'locals', namely pianist Dean Stockdale, bassist Mick Shoulder and drummer Abbie Finn. 

Art Pepper's Miss Who? (a contrafact of Sweet Georgia Brown) hit the heights, Barnes pulling out into the fast lane, the trio right there with him all the way (a top class solo from A. Finn, using brushes all night long), Triste, with Barnes on clarinet, a tune D. Stockdale is fond of playing, Body and SoulSt Thomas, Alan Barnes and co deservedly won much applause. An encore won, bebop to the fore, it had been another canny night here at Old Sunderland's Old Black Cat Jazz Club. Russell                 

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