Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
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: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (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

Friday, July 19, 2024

Luis Verde with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ the Lit & Phil, Newcastle - July 19

© Ken Drew
Luis Verde (alto sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); Abbie Finn (drums).

The Spaniards who blighted our lives last Sunday have now been consigned to the history books. One Spaniard who hasn't blighted our lives is Luis Verde who, at the Lit & Phil's monthly lunchtime concert this afternoon, gave a superb recital that showed just why he is so highly regarded.

The concept was the music of Wayne Shorter and the hour just flew by as we sat and listened in jaw-dropping awe of his technique. However, this was more than a fleet-fingered saxophonist running through the changes almost at the speed of light, this was and is a player who knows exactly what he's putting down even if the idea only came a split-second earlier. Couple this with a full tone and you have the real deal.

Of course even a maestro such as Verde needs a strong rhythm section and he got it. Dean Stockdale can  handle most things that are thrown at him and he duly did. Likewise Mick Shoulder who, despite having just met the amiable man from Cáceres (currently based in Newcastle) only an hour previous, did the necessary.

Special mention also for Abbie Finn. On a roller-coaster ride of fours Senor Verde threw down a 100mph gauntlet (or was it vice versa?) whatever, no quarter was asked or given and it was honours even.

I've only ever heard Wayne Shorter playing tenor or soprano. If he'd still been alive and heard Luis he may have switched to alto.

Then again, maybe he wouldn't ... Lance.

You can also catch them tonight at Darlington: Luis Verde with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.

One by One; Miyako; Juju; Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum; Iris.

1 comment :

Pam said...

Absolutely spell binding concert catch Luis Verde wherever you can!

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