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Bebop Spoken There

Xhosa Cole: ''Monk was unapologetically himself". (Jazzwise, February 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

17744 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 64 of them this year alone and, so far, 64 this month (Jan. 26).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

Fri 31: Alan Barnes Quartet @ The Old Library, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 12 noon-2:00pm (two sets). £12.00. admission (card or cash at the door). Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums). Note change of venue, no longer at Mrs M’s as advertised, the concert will be in the Old Library (Bishop Auckland Jazz’s regular venue). Important! It’s a ‘BYOB’ arrangement - ie bring your own booze (and/or tea, coffee, soft drinks).
Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Café Orkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:00pm. ‘Klezmer, Gypsy Jazz, Balkan & More!’.
Fri 31: Nothing in Rambling @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £10.00. + bf. Country blues duo.
Fri 31 Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Wylam Institute. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £15.00. + £1.50. bf.
Fri 31: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £10.00 + bf. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.
Fri 31: Alan Barnes Quartet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00 Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 31: SwanNek + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. SwanNek’s new single launch gig. Pilgrim, formerly Hoochie Coochie.
Fri 31: King Bees @ Blues Underground; Nelson St., Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

February 2025

Sat 01: Alan Barnes & John Hallam with the Tom Kincaid Trio @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - Cy Coleman’s Witchcraft. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 01: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 01: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Rockin’ Turner Brothers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Western swing etc.

Sun 02: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 02: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 02: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free (donations).
Sun 02: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 02: Jive Aces @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:00pm. Sun 02: John Pope + Andy Champion + Ian Paterson @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Subterranean Explorations 1’. Three (half hour) solo bass sets.
Sun 02: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 03: Andy Watt & Dan Rogers @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance. Jazz, blues, folk etc.
Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 04: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.
Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Phillips, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.
Tue 04: Dilutey Juice + Life Aquatics Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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.

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

Monday, October 07, 2024

Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music 2024 @ the Globe. Emma Johnson's Gravy Boat, Catriona Bourne Quartet, Heather Ferrier - Oct. 6

© Ken Drew
Emma Johnson (tenor sax); Fergus Vickers (guitar); Richard Johnson (piano); Angus Milne (bass); Steve Hanley (drums).
The Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music 2024 went out on a high. In fact if it had drawn to a conclusion any higher then we'd have been sitting on the roof!

This was the third appearance by Emma Johnson's Gravy Boat at the Globe and, as at their previous gigs at the venue, they blew up a storm. The band, like all great bands, captures the mood of each of the compositions - all originals by Emma. 

© Ken Drew
The opening Force of Light began in a drifting, meandering sort of way that gradually developed into a maelstrom of sound with Hanley reminding us - as if we needed reminding - just what a force he is before sanity returned and the force, like the soon to be setting sun, faded.

Home lived up to the title. A soft, mellow, fireside mood with tenor and guitar playing some delightful exchanges. Not the meaningless fours that so many bands use as a cop-out but a genuine moment of creation by two like minds.

Setting Sail was wild. If I'd set sail on this ship my 'sea legs' would have gone before we'd even left the harbour. Needless to say Steve Hanley was the one creating the gale force ten. He solos when he isn't soloing driving his fellow travellers to previously uncharted territory. And when he does solo ...

I didn't catch the title of the next number (from her first album Worry Not) but it offered rather more sedate moments with Jones soloing and Milne solid in support.

Embers, a slow, almost sanctified piece, didn't stray too far away and featured Emma's sumptuous sound.

The two final numbers, Pelican and No Other Flame, saw the excrement hit the fan as everyone dug in and may the devil take the hindmost.

Simply amazing! I left as I'd came in - on a high.

© Ken Drew
Catriona Bourne (harp): Francis Tulip (guitar); Andy Champion (bass); Joe Bainbridge (drums)

Having reviewed the Catriona Bourne Quartet's, soon to be released debut album Triquetra (HERE) I knew what to expect to the extent that I was on a high before they  started. 

However, there were questions that needed answering: 

a) Would the unusual line-up be as effective live as it was on record? 
b) Would the dep bass player fit in okay?

© Ken Drew
The answers were very much in the affirmative. Harp and guitar gelled perfectly in fact the sound was great and I guess the only thing preventing more bands to have harp/guitar front lines is the cost - harps aren't gifted from Heaven. 

Re my second question I answered it by saying to myself "Oh ye of little faith". Andy was superb, as he always is, fitting in like one of the family.

When it comes to guitarists Francis Tulip gets better and better with each hearing. How much further can he go? Watch this space.

The five numbers all came from Triquetra: Triquetra; Coronach; Sligachan Bridge; Rowan; Lannigan.

© Ken Drew
Heather Ferrier (accordion)
In between the two bands there was a solo set by accordionist Heather Ferrier. It was an interesting session as you don't get many accordions at jazz gigs these days.

Whether Ferrier can be classified as a pure jazz musician is debatable and I doubt if she would want to be. However, as this particular festival is a broad church I think her inclusion can be justified by her amazing technique on both keys and buttons - quite awesome. Lance
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