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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

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Preview: Jalen, Joe & the the winner is...

This weekend - Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 November - the BBC comes up trumps with two unmissable programmes*. On Saturday evening Later...with Jools Holland features two of the finest young talents on the jazz scene, that's the international jazz scene. Jalen Ngonda first came to the attention of BSH thanks to Kansas Smitty's lockdown livestreams. Singing Junior Wells' Hoodoo Man Blues, Ngonda announced himself as a shining new talent during the dark days of lockdown. Some three years later, Jalen played to a sold out crowd at Newcastle University Students' Union. A magical, memorable performance. 

Also joining Mr Holland at 10:30pm on BBC 2 is the brilliant Joe Webb! Kansas Smitty's similarly propelled pianist Webb to stardom. A standing ovation at Newcastle's Lit & Phil, sold out appearances at Ronnie Scott's, to sharing a concert stage with none other than Wynton Marsalis, affable Joe is one of the finest pianists of his generation. That's Saturday night sorted.

Less than twenty four hours later, over on BBC 4, it's this year's BBC Young Jazz Musician: the Final. Tune in at nine o'clock to check out four musicians hoping to impress the judges and take the 2024 title. 

YolanDa Brown and Huw Stevens are the presenters and the judging panel is comprised of Nikki YeohSoweto KinchLaura JurdJasper Høiby and Zara McFarlane

The televised event is part of the EFG London Jazz Festival and the four contestants are saxophonist George Johnson, bassist Ursula Harrison, pianist Nils Kavanagh, and trumpeter Klara Devlin and they'll be backed by Zoe RahmanAlec Dankworth and Sophie Alloway. Let battle commence!              

If you're out at a gig or gigs this weekend, you could either record the programme(s) or catch up on iPlayer. Russell 

4 comments :

Chris Kilsby said...

You may like to note that young George is the tenor player with Knats. A very fine player and a lovely guy to boot. The BBC filmed him and the boys on Sunday when they played at Lafayette as part of London Jazz Festival. I'll be rooting for him!

NeilC said...

Watched Jools Jalen was excellent and Joe out Jooled Jools phenomenal playing, I still think his gig at the Lit and Phil was one of the best things I have seen in a long time

Russell said...

Neil, I couldn't agree more!

Anonymous said...

I must admit I have long given up watching 'Jools Holland....Later' having tired of his self-satisfied persona, the in-the-round format and his toe-curlingly bad 'interviews'. However when BSH's Radio Times-reading correspondent gave advance notice that pianist Joe Webb would be on, that was different.
Skipping MOTD I had the TV on while washing up and noticed that JH was as smug as ever, the circular format was the same and if anything his interviews were even worse (he asked the singer St Vincent about doing DIY).
The bands' outfits varied from the distinctive and colourful to, in the case of one band member, what could only be described as skimpy.

Jalen Ngonda's voice was exceptional but I would prefer to hear him in a small venue like NUSU. This could also be said of a couple of the other bands playing.

Joe Webb was the last guest and he kept his end up in the fashion stakes by wearing a bright red leather jacket.
Then he just smashed it!
Playing a combination of his own composition 'CollBlanc' and Fats Wallers' 'Squeeze Me', his ferociously good technique, musicality and pleasure in playing meant this was five minutes of pure joy.

I forgive you everything, Jools, for having him on (but thank the Lord you didn't try and play a duet with him!).

JC

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