Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18482 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 346 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 30 ) 80

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

May

Sun 03: Chilcott Jazz Mass @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 9:30am. Free. Sung communion with Parish Choir (featuring Bob Chilcott’s music). A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sun 03: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 03: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Mark Toomey (alto sax).
Sun 03: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: Tom Waits for No Man @ Oxygenic, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm (2:30pm doors). Neckties and Boxing Gloves album launch. £14.00 (gig & a CD); £8.00 (gig only). SOLD OUT!
Sun 03: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 03: John Pope & John Garner @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.

Mon 04: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Pete Tanton’s Cuban Heels @ The Library, South Parade, Whitley Bay. 4:00-6:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 05: Leah Kirk (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 2:30pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jenny Baker (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 4:20pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Tue 05: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 07: Robert Finley @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50. Excellent US falsetto soul/blues voice.
Thu 07: ALT @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Rob Walker. Thu 07: Liam & Shayo @ The Globe , Newcastle. 8:00pm. £5.00. Liam Oliver (guitar), Shayo Oshodi (vocals).
Thu 07: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 08: Alan Law Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Law, Mick Shoulder, John Bradford.
Fri 08: Giles Strong & Richard Herdman @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Guitar duo.
Fri 08: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 6:00pm . Free. A Late Shows event.
Fri 08: Nigel Kennedy @ The Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Line-up inc. Alec Dankworth.

Sat 09: SH#RP Collective w. Lindsay Hannon @ Church of Holy Name, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £15.00 (inc. a welcome drink). Advance booking essential. Bring own snacks, drinks to be purchased at ‘donations’ bar. All proceeds to charity. A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sat 09: East Coast Swing Band @ Jubilee Hall, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £10.00.

Monday, April 28, 2025

Sunday night @ the Globe: the Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet - April 27

© Ken Drew
Paul Edis (piano); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax, flute); Ken Marley (bass); Russ Morgan (drums)

Come Wednesday (April 30) we'll be celebrating, not only International Jazz Day which in itself is a cause worth popping a cork for, but also the anniversary of the Globe as a community owned music venue where, over the past eleven years, there have been many great gigs. However, few, if indeed any of those gigs, have topped last night's session by the Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet - not even their own previous appearances! They were on fire!

A balanced mix of standards and originals by the two leaders had the audience voluntarily captured. No one even thought about leaving until they'd heard the very last note of the final cadenza. I didn't need the Metro, I floated home on a cloud.

© Ken Drew
And home was the overall theme of the evening's compositions - not least because Paul and Vasilis' most recent album Feels Like Home is centred around that place where, 'tis said, the heart is.

Going Home got the journey underway and with a little help from Dvořák, who put in the groundwork, we were flying into a new world. Mega extended solos from piano and tenor drew the applause with bass and drums steadying the ship.

Collywood (Collier's Wood) referred to the area where Paul metaphorically hangs his hat. Vasi composed The Yard a number where Ken Marley let his fingers do the walking. A rare standard - The Folks Who Live on the Hill - had the 'Grecian God of the Tenor' at his sumptuous best with perhaps a hint of Dexter Gordon in the mix.

© Ken Drew
Another Vasi original, Get Off My Lawn, was, contrafactually speaking, actually You'd be so Nice to Come Home to which kept it in the remit. It brought the first set to a close and the buzzwords that were circulating didn't include any negatives.

Paul's Lockdown London is self-explanatory and a reflection of that strange period when the world stopped. The rhythm was more contemporary and Vasi's tenor solo left me breathless and I wasn't even blowing the damn thing. After a solo like that I doubt if I ever will!

Composed by Paul in a NYC hotel room, A Rainy Day in Manhattan is not only a great tune but a fantastic title that is just crying out for a lyric.

Vasi took to the flute for Paul's Coming Home to You then back to tenor for a wild  3/4 number Awaiting Boarding (at King's Cross).

The show finished with a mad blast on I Got Rhythm - a tune more frequently played as Anthropology, Lester Leaps in or at least 100 other titles many of which popped up in the solos. Special mention of the fireman and the stoker - Ken Marley and Russ Morgan. Ken had his moments in the sun whilst Russ was confined to solid support and the occasional break. Great that he's back on the scene.

And then it was all over - well not quite. There was also the album which, if you hadn't bought on the night, can be BANDCAMPED. Lance
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