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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

18037 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 458 of them this year alone and, so far, 36 this month (June 11).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free. Concert performance (open to the public)..
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00. CANCELLED!

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: David Gray's Flextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’.
Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

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, January 16, 2025

DVD review: Ella & Basie - The Perfect Match

Ella Fitzgerald (vocals) with: 

The Paul Smith Trio: Paul Smith (piano); Keeter Betts (bass); Mickey Roker (drums)

Count Basie & his Orchestra: Count Basie (piano); Freddie Green (guitar); Keeter Betts (bass); Mickey Roker (drums); Pete Minger, Sonny Cohn, Paul Cohen, Ray Brown (trumpets); Bootie Wood, Bill Hughes, Mel Wanzo, Dennis Wilson (trombones); Bobby Plater, Danny Turner (alto sax); Eric Dixon, Kenny Hing (tenor sax); Charlie Fowlkes (baritone sax) 

You know how it is. Some days you are walking along, minding your business, when, inside a charity shop, you spot a DVD of Ella and Basie at Montreux in 1979! That's what happened to me today and, to make it even sweeter, the asking price was 20p! I didn't haggle, it was cash on the barrelhead. Transaction completed, it was home Lance  and don't spare the horses.

An excellent 85 minutes of Ella mainly with the trio - Basie didn't appear until towards the end - although the band did some punchy section work over the course of the opening five numbers.

A few trio numbers including 'Round Midnight where Danny Turner stepped down front to join Ella and co. on flute. The First Lady was in good voice and never more so than on You've Changed.

Basella, as the title implies, featured the Count tinkling the ivories, Ella scatting like it was the eve of Armageddon and the added bonus of Eric Dixon and Bootie Wood slugging it out on tenor and trombone respectively.

All in all it was the best 20p I've ever spent! Lance 

Introduction by Nat Hentoff; Please Don't Talk About me When I'm Gone; Sweet Georgia Brown; Some Other Spring; Make me Rainbows; After You've Gone; 'Round Midnight; Dindi; Fine and Mellow; I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You; Flying Home; You've Changed; Honeysuckle Rose; St Louis Blues; Basella; I've Got a Crush on You.                 

1 comment :

Brian shine said...

for 20 pence ,you should be arrested! come this way please

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