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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far,23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

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.

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.

Sun 12: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: King Bees @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.
Sun 12: Dave Bottomley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.
Sun 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 13: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 13: Raymond MacDonald & Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ 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

Friday, January 10, 2025

Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar - Jan. 9

Merlin Roxby (piano)

Following a break of a couple of months or so, pianist Merlin Roxby returned to Prohibition Bar to play an eclectic selection of numbers, most of them in a ragtime vein, one as a rolling boogie-woogie. On a bitterly cold night the expectation was few, if any, punters would brave the elements. How wrong can one be? A couple of dozen hardy souls turned up, most of them there to listen to Merlin, one or two others there simply to enjoy a drink down on Pink Lane.

Hallelujah I Love Her So opened the show. Does Merlin sing? If he does, he didn't tonight! Randy Newman's You Got a Friend in Me, Charles L. Cooke's Blame it on the Blues, yes, a varied set list, that's for sure. Merlin isn't one for talking, preferring to let the 88s do the talking. No sooner is one number at an end, Merlin launches into another. Hey! Merlin...slow down! King Porter Stomp (an undoubted highlight of the evening), Top Cat (you've got to love it and smile), our man Merlin was warming up nicely.

Prohibition Bar in winter can be rather cold and this evening it was, as they say, 'Baltic'. Cups of tea warmed the hands of some, others, sitting with a bottle (or three) of Double Maxim tried to convince themselves the legendary Wearside beer was an ideal 'winter warmer'. Brrr!

Second set highlights included Jelly Roll Morton's Sidewalk Blues, the rollin' and tumblin' Mess Around and, from the world of animation/cartoon/gaming/tv show, Patient is the Night (as performed by Tom Briers). Ragtime pianists are a rare breed, here on Tyneside Merlin Roxby is doing his bit to maintain/revive the form. Catch Merlin at Prohibition Bar next month, date to be advised.   

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