Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

August

Mon 03: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 03: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Saturday, August 24, 2024

Eva Fox and the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar - August 23

© Sylvia T

Eva Fox (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Sid White (Paul Wight)

A change of drummer with Tim Johnson being replaced by Sid/Paul White/Wight - you pays yer money and yer takes yer pick. One day someone will clarify the situation for me. In the meantime let's just call him A. Drummer (and a fine one at that).

The room wasn't crowded, before I arrived the audience stood at minus two (they were nesting in Birdland or some similar joint in NYC). However, as the music began a few lost souls appeared and stayed for an evening of songbook classics and a surprise Beatles tune.


The Way You Look Tonight's breathless charm was followed by Don't Get Around Much Anymore and the Beatles' Oh Darling from that album where they're on a zebra crossing. 

Unfamiliar with the song, we guessed it to be a Ray Charles or a Marvin Gaye or someone of that ilk number and were gobsmacked to find it was from the 'Fab Four'. To give Sister Mama Fox her due, her vocal sounded more authentic than Brother Paul McCartney's did!

That was the only surprise in the two sets apart from the fact that she didn't include Summertime in her setlist. Having just recovered from Storm Lillian this was a wise move. In fact, even without the storm, it was a wise move.

Peel me a Grape, When I Fall in Love (best of the night, it even silenced the chatterboxes), Blue Skies and Devil May Care brought the first set to a close.

Interval over, back on stage the trio opened up with a bluesy type tune that told them as didn't already know how good Alan Law is at building up a solo, how rock solid bassist Paul Grainger is and how loud our multi-named drummer can be when freed from captivity.

Ms Fox returned with the tried and tested There Will Never be Another You, Satin Doll, I'm Through With Love, Exactly Like You, For All we Know, Georgia on my Mind and, finally, Route 66.

A most enjoyable, if not  over demanding, evening. Lance

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