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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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

Sunday, February 02, 2025

House of the Black Gardenia @ 'Somewhere in Jesmond' - Feb. 1

© Russell
Elise Rana (vocals, washboard); Pete Tanton (trumpet); David Gray (trombone); Keith Robinson (reeds); Katja Roberts (violin); Elliott Rush (piano); Michael Littlefield (guitar, banjo, vocals); Neil Hopper (bass, sousaphone); Kit Haigh (drums)

The house was impressive, top end of six figures, inside it was wall to wall eating, drinking, dancing and goodness knows what else! Resplendent in his officers mess dress uniform (Guards?) mein host introduced the House of the Black Gardenia to the rapidly filling mini ballroom where the swing dancers were straining at the leash ready to strut their stuff and strut it they did - mein host leading the charge as his forebears may have done at Sebastopol.

Band and dancers were soon rhythmically connected. Saxist, singer Fiona Finden later commented that they were as one with each inspiring the other.

© Russell
You're Driving me Crazy opened the first set opened with vocals by Littlefield and Rana plus solos by Robinson and Tanton. All were in good form. Another HotBG favourite, One in a Million, followed with Elisa taking the vocal and solos by Robinson on tenor and Rush at the keyboard - given  the size of the house and the apparent opulence I'd have expected a Steinway at least - maybe it was in one of the other rooms.

Big Big Man had solos all round and again the ever swinging Elisa on vocal. After You Rascal You which had backing vocals by both band and dancers, Michael Littlefield sang Why? He plays a mean blues guitar, does some mighty fine banjo picking and has a voice that slots easily into the idiom.

The set closed with Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho but, before the walls came a-tumblin' down we heard the best version of I Wish I Could Shimmy Like my Sister Kate since the 1939 recording by Muggsy Spanier's Ragtimers. With Elise scrubbing the washboard and the hottest trumpet solo I've ever heard from Pete (normally he's on the Chet Baker side of the street) this really was something else.

Time to feed the inner man, chat with some of my high society acquaintances: Have you heard about dear Blanche? Got run down by an avalanche." "No!" "She's a game girl, got up and finished fourth."

The second set opened instrumentally with The Mooche followed by Low Down Blues with a gutsy solo by David Gray particularly catching the mood. Elise introduced If You Don't Give me What I Want as being from the band's early days (back then she answered to the name of Bobbi Charleston) adding that Lance will probably remember it. I did and here's my review to prove it.

Michael was featured once again on Evenin' and I Can't Take it no Longer sandwiching Elise's Blue Drag. Both singers deserved the accolades bestowed upon them.

Violinist Katya, who'd earlier shone in a number described as Mazurka in Jazz
© Russell
which had reminded me of my days as a nine year old schoolboy struggling to play a simplified version of a Chopin mazurka transcribed for violin - Chopin won! - was featured on the traditional Otchi-Tchor-Ni-Ya (Dark Eyes) and the set concluded with Take a Look Outside.

Although there was a jam session to follow, it was time for the BSH contingent to leave. No liveried chauffeur, just the old family retainer (Nexus) to return us from whence we came. We all agreed that it had been a swell party with a great band who capture the essence of small group swing to perfection. Sir, you did your former regiment proud. Lance

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

It was a lovely party with fine music and dancing and fine hospitality from Lloyd. There was indeed a sense of the ballroom in a big old fashioned terrace house.
It was also rich in unexpected encounters with people who have been part of our musical lives in Newcastle. It was a very memorable evening.

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