Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Friday, November 15, 2024

Nicola Farnon Trio @ the Lit & Phil - Nov. 15

© Patti
Nicola Farnon (bass, vocals); Martin Longhawn (piano); Phil Johnson (drums)

Although it was only lunchtime, the lights in the room were dimmed at the bandleader's request. It was like a late night session in a club, and so was the music. If there were any misgivings about this time warp they soon vanished with Ms. Farnon's captivating smile and, of course, her voice.

Taking a Chance on Love and the trio were flying. The leader singing, scatting and bass fiddling, Longhawn feeling his way around the grand and Johnson laying down the beat. So far so good and if it didn't get any better than this we still wouldn't be asking for our money back!

A Farnon original followed. A Perfectly Loverly Day was just that even though it felt like night!

© Patti
With Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen's Accentuate the Positive the negative was most certainly eliminated! The trio had begun the set flying and now they were jumpin'! Nicola was in arco mode sawing away at the bass like a forester attacking a redwood tree. However, the clapometer gave Longhawn the nod. Depping for Richard Wetherall, he was indeed the super-sub.

Tillie, another of the leader's compositions, was inspired by the loss of a beloved pet. Many of us have been there and Nicola's words captured the feeling to sad perfection alleviated, to an extent, by Johnson's hypnotic Latin beat.

Cheek to Cheek, an out and out swinger, had Nicola scatting and exchanging fours with Johnson who was spot on - he had to be otherwise he'd be sleeping on the sofa.

5 Minutes to Go was all about meeting your maker or maybe your next door neighbour and asking important questions ...

I Didn't Know What Time it Was began in the middle before going into a bossa. Impressive  solos from piano and drums.

Sing, sung, initially, with just bass for accompaniment. It was rather 'loverly'. Piano and drums joined the party and, for one horrific moment I thought we, the audience, were going to be invited to singalong! Fortunately, sanity prevailed.

The hour went by too quickly and, after Stevie's For Once in my Life, we were out into the  cold reality of November in Newcastle but we were warm inside. Come back soon. Lance

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