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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

18076 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 397 of them this year alone and, so far, 75 this month (May 25).

From This Moment On ...

MAY 2025

Thu 29: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: That’s the Blues, Dad.
Thu 29: Nova.sol + Mikoudi @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 29: Front Porch Three @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, blues etc.

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Rivkala @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 30: Clare MacLaren & Malcolm Railton @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30-9:00pm. £1.00. minimum.
Fri 30: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Middleton & Tonbridge Village Hall. 7:30pm.

Sat 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 31: Funk Soul Sista @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 31: House of the Black Gardenia @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. SOLD OUT!

JUNE 2025

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 01: Harry Keeble Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Keeble, Mark Williams, Andy Champion, Abbie Finn.
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 01: Hattie Whitehead @ Cotherstone Village Hall, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. £12.00.; £6.00. child.
Sun 01: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle (8:00pm).

Mon 02: Swing Manouche @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 02: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Phillips, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.
Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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, April 11, 2013

CD Review: Bruno Heinen Sextet - Tierkreis.

Bruno Heinen (pno/music boxes); Fulvio Surgatà (tpt); Tom Challenger (tpt); James Allsopp (bs. clt.); Andrea Di Biase (bs); Jon Scott (dms).
(Review by Lance)
When I read the notes I was suspicious - a work by Stockhausen in 12 parts based on the signs of the Zodiac filled me with trepidation and my first thought was, who can I palm this off on? Fortunately I didn't, and it turns out be quite a delightful disc! The music boxes are incorporated sparingly and effectively, heads are melodic and the solos well within the bounds of comprehension.
Heinen is a sensitive player, classically trained but with a jazzman's ability to extract that extra something from the most unlikely source. Italian born trumpet player Surgatà, is now London based after having studied at Berklee in Boston and obtained a Masters at the Guildhall. His tone is full and at times melancholic. Very appealing sound.
Tenorist, Tom Challenger, is another Guildhall graduate. Warm, emotional, a player of considerable originality. Bass clarinettist, Allsop has occasional moments of insanity - Scorpio in particular - but otherwise he behaves himself drawing some rich melodic sounds from his chosen instrument. My own particular birth sign - Pisces - appeared to have Allsop playing a duet with himself (unless Challenger was playing a Bb clarinet?)
Most enjoyable - I may even start listening to Stockhausen himself.
CD Review: Bruno Heinen Sextet - Tierkreis. was launched at The Vortex on April 3, and is released on April 15.
Lance.

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