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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 2025).

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

17972 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 293 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (April 22).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

Sat 26: Durham Alumni Big Band @ Number One Bar, Darlington. 12 noon. Free (donations).
Sat 26: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 26: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Elvet Methodist Church, Durham. 7:30pm. Tickets: £12.00. + bf. Duo performance.
Sat 26: Neil Cowley Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.50.
Sat 26: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 27: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Paul Susans, Russ Morgan.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: JustKing Jones @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.50. JustKing Jones (alto sax, soprano sax); Jordan Williams (piano); Jason Clotter (bass); Malcolm Charles (drums). Ace NYC outfit!
Sun 27: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 27: Swing Manouche @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00. Tickets from 01665 711388.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Ken Marley, Russ Morgan.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: International Jazz Day @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £16.00.; £14.00. adv.. Feat. Guido Spannocchi, John Pope & Steve Hanley + Take it to the Bridge participants + Open Mic Night participants.

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, October 22, 2024

Gideon Tazelaar Quartet @ Blaydon Jazz Club - Oct. 21

© Russell
Gideon Tazelaar (tenor sax); Joe Steels (guitar); Arnie Somogyi (double bass); John Hirst (drums)

My worthy constituent Russell covered most of the bases in his review of the quartet's lunchtime gig over at the Yamaha Music Centre in Blyth (see earlier post) so, rather than reiterate his glowing terms, most of which I agree with, I'll throw in a few observations of my own.

It was good to note that the audience were filling the small room of the Black Bull for the fourth month in a row at  Blaydon Jazz Club in this, its 40th year. Roly must be doing something right and he certainly did last night with the music on offer helped along by an Arts Council grant - the Dutch Arts Council that is.

This isn't as bizarre as it might seem as Tazelaar, born in Holland and a graduate of Julliard is well worthy of his home country's support. Pairing him with outstanding British bassist Somogyi and two local boys made good was an inspired  choice.

© Russell
In a Mellotone began with a bass intro that told me where 'we' were going. Tazelaar came in and I was immediately captivated by his sound. It was as if Johnny Hodges or Benny Carter were playing tenor. Steels too soloed and comped well with Hirst providing the rhythmic impetus.

The Shadow of Your Smile as a bossa was followed by Cottontail. Now the Dutchman was really flying taking the 'changes' in his stride, his fellow travellers with him all the way. John Hirst releasing one of the many explosions that erupted during the evening.

A rarely heard Ellington ballad, Don't You Know I Care?, was, to sum-up in one word, beautiful. The set finished on Wes Montgomery's West Coast Blues and, naturally, Steels had plenty to say musically before the whole shebang closed with a round of fours. 

The consensus on the ground was a general feeling of comfort. Neither too demanding nor too familiar. It was just right.

Love You Madly, as Duke used to address the audience, opened the second set and the Blaydon audience returned the greeting with vociferous applause.

As part of an Ellington project he is involved in the bassist composed a couple of as yet unnamed Ellington inspired tunes. The first one, based on one of the 'get out jail free cards' - rhythm changes - had an extended round of fours between bass and drums. Fours are fine but they do have a tendency to overstay their welcome.

You go to my Head was ballad playing as close to perfection as you're ever going to get on a Monday night in Blaydon - maybe even in New York. I liked the way Joe Steels seamlessly slipped a quote from Misty into his solo.

The second untitled tune was that other get out jail free card, the blues. This had a rockin' Kansas City groove maybe more Basie than Ellington. If there had been enough room those that were able would have been dancing their butts off!

The hour was getting late, there were trains and cars and buses to catch and what better way to send us home than with an emotive version of Body and Soul? Arnie played the melody to bring it in and to take it out with Joe and Gideon supplying a very tasty filling indeed. Nice brushwork from John and then it was all over. Tot ziens. Lance

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