Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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 14, 2024

Sunday night @ the Globe - Dulcie May Moreno - Oct. 13

© Patti/Sylvia
Dulcie May Moreno (vocals); Mark Williams (guitar); Mick Shoulder (bass); John Bradford (drums)

Across the road in the aircraft hanger known as the Utilita Arena, Becky Hill was feeding the 10,700. In the Globe Dulcie May Moreno was preaching to a lesser congregation. In a perfect world the situation would have been reversed. At least nobody in the Globe needed medical attention.

Dulcie is a regular visitor to the area (she was born here) and never fails to captivate an audience as was proved last night.

Opening up with Dat Dere I was immediately taken by the almost operatic range and the purity of her voice. To have those qualities and still maintain the all-important jazz feel is no mean feat but Dulcie does it with apparent ease.

Our Love is Here to Stay, one of Gershwin's greatest love songs was beautifully sung and had an expressive solo by Mark. However, given the nature of the song I felt that the fours by bass and drums seemed out of place on such a ballad. This is no reflection on Mick or John who, like Mark, were superb throughout. Dulcie's final note left you hanging in the air - a beautiful touch.  

Dulcie was in Chet Baker mode for Do it the Hard Way and, in the absence of a trumpet, made up for it with a scat chorus.

Walkin' had a nice feel to it. A bossa that I didn't catch the title of but captured the Gilberto groove and had excellent contributions from guitar, bass and drums followed and Doodlin' brought us up to the interval.

Everyone was happy.

Pure Imagination, No Moon at All and a terrific Take me to New York from her recent mini-album, reviewed HERE, kept the momentum going as did Humility Blues from the same album.

I'm in the Mood For Love had me swooning like a Becky Hill fan. The show drew towards a close with that grand old showstopper Mercy, Mercy, Mercy but I had to leave at the end of the second Mercy to avoid the mass exodus from across the road.

Great singer, great band - who needs Ibiza? Lance

No comments :

Blog Archive