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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

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

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.

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

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

NYC jazz notes (15)

Subway from West 44th (Birdland) down to West 10th. A Monday night at the Village Vanguard means one thing, twice nightly performances by one of NYC's finest big band outfits. Once upon a time it was the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, for the last few decades, and a change of name along the way, it's been the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. 

Two shows every Monday night, year round, all of them advance sell outs. Tickets purchased in the UK, we booked for the second house. The West Village was busy, it's probably like this 365 days of the year. At around nine in the evening, as the first house was approaching its end, up on the street a queue began to form. Some time after nine, the first house came out, at half past we were making our way down the steps into one of the most famous jazz rooms on the planet. It's first come, first served to the seats. Sitting front row, we were close enough to tap pianist Adam Birnbaum on the shoulder...

Across the room chattering voices in a multitude of languages (they had come from all over the world) added to the air of anticipation. Each chair in the band occupied by a NYC A-lister, some of the chairs have been occupied by the same musicians for several decades. The ensemble ambled onto stage, all very casual. From the down beat the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra roared and roared some more. 

Front row, the reeds, including Billy Drewes (alto sax), Rich Perry and Ralph Lalama (tenor saxophones), in the 'bones Jason Jackson and Robert EdwardsDouglas Purviance (bass 'bone), the trumpet section, Terell Stafford and Scott Wendholt among them. Wow! This was some band! Some seventy five minutes later they were done. Time had flown. We were sitting in the Village Vanguard, reluctant to leave. A pinch moment.  

The next day would be one of contrasts: eating/drinking, shopping, sight-seeing (marvelling at the skyscrapers), then a dream trip out to Flushing Meadows and a second encounter with Louis Armstrong. Russell  

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