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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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

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

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Les Jazz Rebels @ Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival - July 13

Jacques Boulan (trumpet, vocals); Jacques Montebruno (clarinet); Jean-Marc Ternois (trombone); Jean-Pierre Dubois (banjo); ? (double bass); ? (drums)

St Bride's Centre, tucked away in a residential side street, is but one venue pressed into action to accommodate some of the many concerts at the annual Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival. The 2024 edition of the international extravaganza included appearances (plural) by Les Jazz Rebels. The French outfit, inspired by Claude Luter, Sidney Bechet, Chris Barber and others, enjoyed playing to a sold out Friday crowd at the Jazz and Jive Club. A matter of hours later the six-piece band took to the Saturday lunchtime outdoor stage at Grassmarket before heading to St Bride's.

Arriving at St Bride's Centre, Les Jazz Rebels' soundcheck was momentarily suspended as Jean-Pierre Dubois declared his banjo broken. Did one cheer or commiserate? A call went out to the Tenement Jazz Band's John Youngs who just happened to be busy dismantling the Grassmarket stage. Handing on the manual labour job to a festival colleague, Youngs came to the rescue, delivering his banjo, in person, to Monsieur Dubois. 

Overcast and drizzling, this typical Edinburgh summer's day (!) didn't deter the faithful. St Bride's welcomed a large crowd there to listen to the Gallic jazz of Les Jazz Rebels. Quite what they were rebelling against wasn't at all clear, perhaps 'renegades' would be a more accurate moniker with some of the musicians refugees from the likes of the famed Hot Antic Jazz Band, Haricots Rouge and Jazz à Bichon. Black Cat on the FenceFidgety Feet, 'Les Rebels' gave the audience what it had come to hear. Jean-Pierre Dubois' witty introductions did wonders for post-Brexit UK-France relations. Similarly trumpeter Jacques Boulan charmed the crowd, singing several numbers, in English, of course!

The set list could best be described as 'eclectic', I Love You, Samantha and My Cheatin' Heart unlikely selections. New Orleans Wiggle and Band Box Stomp hit the spot, as did What a Wonderful World, Dubois musing on the state of our 'wonderful world', wondering what Louis Armstrong would make of it. Little did we know that in a matter of hours world events would take a turn...

The audience wanted one more, Les Jazz Rebels obliged with At the Jazz Band Ball                

Set list: Harlem ?A Precious Little Thing Called LoveBlack Cat on the FenceCrazy About YouFidgety FeetI Love You, SamanthaMy Cheatin' HeartNew Orleans WiggleBand Box StompWhat a Wonderful WorldAt the Jazz Band Ball

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