Djangologie @ Bridge Hotel, Newcastle - JNE Xmas Party.

Emma Fisk (vln); James Birkett/Giles Strong (gtr); Mick Shoulder (bs).

A good crowd and a good band - what more do you need for a Xmas Party? Nothing!

This Jazz North East celebration of Christmas was indeed a Cracker. An absolutely perfect gig by four immaculate players.

Jazz Café Dates for the Diary.

Jazz Café    0191 2615618 open late 11am-1am Fridays and Saturday  …. admission free up to 9.30pm.

admission for most events £4.50 on the door, except New Year's Eve

Live Music Nights

Fri 13th Dec. £4.50. 10.00pm Paul Edis Trio

Contemporary straight -ahead jazz from one of the UKs finest piano trios

"brilliant young pianist " The Guardian.

Sat 14th Dec. 10.00pm Paul Gowland Allstars ……… £4.50

One of Tyneside's top tenors: swings like crazy with a tone fit to blister paint.

Sunday Night Stomp End of Year Special.

Come along to Swing Tyne!'s 'Sunday Night Stomp' end of year special on Dec 29 at Hoochie Coochie? Fresh from his day job with Pokey LaFarge, we have TJ Muller and his newly-formed Honky-Tonk Jazz Band playing a live set. Free entry! Come along!

Gaudencio Thiago De Mello

Read about this amazing musician/sportsman who died on November 13.
Thanks to Maurice Summerfield for drawing this New York Times article to my attention.
Lance.

Jim Hall by Maurice Summerfield

Jim Hall has always been one of my favourite jazz musicians – right from when in 1957 I first bought his LP ‘Jazz Guitar – Jim Hall Trio’ with pianist Carl Perkins and Red Mitchell on bass. I also loved his particpation with various Chico Hamilton groups. Chico sadly of course also died a few days ago. I now have that historic LP recording on CD (Gambit 69259 and Avid AMSC1033) – and I still listen to it very, very often. I have dozens of Jim’s recordings as leader, in a duo with Bill Evans, with the Jimmy Giuffre Trio and in marvellous groups led by Paul Desmond, Art Farmer, Sonny Rollins and other jazz greats.  He was often referred to as the ‘Poet of Jazz Guitar’ – and this I believe he was. The epitome of musical taste – and a true innovator.

I was fortunate to spend a week with Jim at the 1989 Midnight Sun Guitar Festival in Ikaalinen, Finland. He was a man of deep intellect, quiet personality and good company. I just received a few weeks ago his new marvellous 3-CD set from his Artist Share Records company – ‘Jim Hall Live – Vols 2 - 4 Toronto 1975’. A wonderful testament to Jim’s genius. Jim Hall was truly a jazz giant..

Maurice Summerfield.

Photo:Maurice with Jim Hall in Ikaalinen, Finland June 1989.
More photos.

Jim Hall by Jim Douglas

To my mind Jim Hall was the gentle giant of jazz guitar.  His tone was quiet and soft and lulled you into the false belief that he wasn’t really doing very much until you tried to copy his runs, licks and chording. It was then you realised that this was no ordinary player and any complacency on your part was immediately replaced by feelings of inadequacy and awe.  From his insistent rhythmic accompaniment with Jimmy Giuffre and Bob Brookmeyer, his exciting duets with Jimmy Raney and his superb album with the wonderful Carl Perkins on piano, to his tasteful solo performances, Hall has left an unequalled legacy of excellence. My particular favourite performances are his solo on “Deep in a Dream” on the aforementioned album and his playing throughout “In the Wee Small Hours” with Gerry Mulligan. I caught him once in London and came away spellbound and inspired in the same way I would have been if he had been Django Reinhardt or Charlie Christian. High praise indeed but totally deserved.  The news of his death has shocked and saddened me immeasurably.

Jim Douglas 10/12/2013.

Bopping All Hours

OK so I'm the corner shop and Facebook is Tesco/Asda/ Sainsbury's and Morrison's combined. What I'm trying to do with this blog is to create a scene for local jazz groups and musicians to have their gigs publicised and reviewed - to promote and to keep the public informed of future gigs, CDs, and items of interest re the band etc. Many local bands and musicians do help me (and themselves) by providing up to date info but not all. What often happens is that I pick up items on Facebook that are past their sell by date that could have been given publicity.. So please, tell the fans on face book by all means, but also keep Bebop Spoken Here in the frame too. We're working for you and it gets networked on Facebook and Twitter anyway so remember we're always here when you run out of salt peanuts! salt peanuts! we're open till 'round midnight too.
Lance.

RIP Jim Hall (1930-2013)

The word is that one of the world's greatest jazz guitarists, Jim Hall, passed away in his sleep early this morning. I haven't had absolute confirmation but I think the source is reliable. How sad is this and how sudden?

Less than a fortnight ago Mike Papapavlou reported on the awesome experience of hearing Jim Hall in New York and now he's gone.

It was back in the 1960s when I heard Jim Hall as part of the Jimmy Giuffre Trio in a JATP package at Newcastle City Hall. Such a cool, laid back player. Years later, Roly Veitch introduced me to the Jim Hall/Paul Desmond sides and in between I'd heard Hall on Sonny Rollins' legendary LP The Bridge.

Guitar playing of the highest quality.

I'm hoping my information is wrong but, somehow, I know it isn't.

The jazz world and the guitar world has lost a giant.

Jim Hall was 83.

Sadly missed.

Lance.
PS: Confirmed with this obituary from Ottawa with lots of clips.
PPS: Down Beat Tribute.

Gig of the Year

My Gig of the Year is one that stands so high above the rest that the others, no matter how big the names involved, become, by comparision, Conference as opposed to Premier League.

It was also the first gig of 2013 and it set a standard none could match, possibly no gig ever will.

I refer, of course, to Keith Crombie's funeral, the procession behind the horse drawn hearse, the service, the journey back in a London Transport Routemaster bus and the wake/jam that took place in the Town Walls pub opposite the then spectre-like Jazz Café.

The bar was crowded with the hundreds of mourners who'd come to pay their respects. On stage, just about everyone who'd ever played or sang at The Caff, did their thing (Harry Connick jr and Jamie Cullum didn't make it but they were about the only ones!)

Ellington or Basie couldn't have wished for a better send-off. I didn't want to be there - I'd sooner have been across the road exchanging improbable stories with Crombie but, as that wasn't going to happen ever again, I'm just glad I was.

Lance.
PS: and next year - no prizes for guessing what my Film of the Year will be!

ALT – Splinter @ the Bridge December 8

Alan Law (Piano) John Pope (D Bass) Jonathan Marriott (Drums)

(Review by Kath Jobes)

Wow what a busy Sunday! First I went to the inaugural Jam session at Salsa… great to see some new faces… long may it continue… you can never have too much Jazz!   After a bite to eat at and a natter to a couple of folks, I moved on to Splinter at The Bridge… well, I thought, why not make an evening of it?

I think I was the first one there… apart from the band, but slowly the numbers grew, although not quite as well attended as expected…but that’s the way it goes sometimes.