Vieux Carre Jazzmen @ The Holystone, North Tyneside - Feb 28

(Review by Russell)

it was a beautiful blue sky day. At the Holystone pub the Vieux Carre Jazzmen remembered Dave Rae. The band's weekly residency opened with the spiritual Just a Little While to Stay Here, a number played countless times by Dave who sadly died a few days ago. 

As tradition has it, the show must go on and Brian Bennett and the lads continued with Jim McBriarty singing Jealousy. The VCJ's other band singer, Fred Thompson, sang an old favourite in Way Down Yonder in New Orleans. The five piece, all seated (they're getting on, you know!), came up with a wide variety of material including Jim McBriarty singing Willie Nelson's Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (there was a marked similarity in vocal style with Ryan Baer of New Orleans based Frog and Henry). Drummer Thompson sang Alice Blue Gown then, in good old crooner fashion, East of the Sun (and West of the Moon). 

What the Papers Say

 Four jazz mags on display at WH Smith's! Must be a record and, in the case of Jazzwise it is - a 10 track CD for free!
Lance

Preview: The Great North Big Band Jazz Festival (Feb 28-Mar 1)

(Preview by Russell)

This weekend the GNBBJF returns to Park View Community Centre. GNBBJF? That's the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival being staged once again in Chester le Street from Friday 28 February to Sunday 1 March. A huge event, a mammoth undertaking, the GNBBJF is one of the most important weekends in the big band jazz calendar. Orchestras from across the country will be converging on Church Chare just off Front Street in Chester le Street to battle it out hoping to take home some silverware.

Jam session @ The Black Swan - Feb 25

(Review by Russell)

It Could Happen to You (Jimmy Van Heusen/Johnny Burke), Georgia on my Mind (pianist Dean Stockdale putting his stamp on it) and Beautiful Love (with a sparkling round of fours) set the standard. MC Paul Grainger welcomed one and all - regulars and new faces - with an invitation to musicians known and unknown to make themselves available, ready to go. 

Ray Johnson, this evening on flugelhorn, couldn't wait to get going and a fluent reading of Sam Rivers' Beatrice threw down the gauntlet to the, by now, large contingent of fellow musicians waiting in the shadows. The first of the evening's three tenor saxophonists pitched up. George Sykes sporting a hip haircut blew on a couple of numbers, notably When Sonny Gets Blue, before giving way to the second of our tenor men, Harry Keeble. Dean Stockdale's choice chordal accompaniment on Out of Nowhere underpinned HK's excellent tenor work which, it transpired, was an hors d'oeurve to a blistering Keeble take on Night and Day with Messrs Stockdale, Grainger and Walker flaunting their A-list credentials. It had been an excellent first set.

Hello Dolly Peel

This photo appeared in today's Shields Gazette. Fred Rowe is on long model cornet with Harry on banjo. The venue is the Dolly Peel on Commercial Road. Can anyone recall Harry's surname?  Sadly, both Fred and Harry are long gone.

Lance.

PS: The pub was, and possibly still is, one of the best real alers in South Shields.

RIP Dave Rae - Death of a legend

It is with great sadness that I write to tell you that Dave Rae passed away at approximately 8.30 this morning (Feb. 25).

I have lost a musical partner of many years but also the best friend one could hope for.

The North East Jazz scene has lost a major player and standard bearer for true New Orleans music, but mostly a gentleman in every sense of the word.

I would be grateful if you could relay this sad information to the wider Jazz public via your blog.

John Robinson.

Strangers on a Train

Last Thursday, returning by Metro from Gosforth Civic Theatre after the Gaz Hughes Sextet concert, I got into conversation with a fellow fan, Martin, who hails from Carlisle. He was familiar with Bebop Spoken Here and showed interest when I asked him if he would like to do some CD reviewing. Unfortunately, I failed to get his email address before he left the train. So Martin, if you read this, please get in touch.

Lance

Vortex Conference

On 11 and 12 March, as part of an EU project with which we are involved at the Vortex, there will be a conference/showcase/workshop etc. at the club. In particular, there will be a public session about the state of the media as it now is. It is an opportunity to take into account the consolidation of the internet impact, as it complements and frequently is an essential replacement of the traditional media, such as BBC and newspapers.

The above, from Oliver Weindling of London’s Vortex, raises many important issues – not just about jazz but about life in general.

As a committed blogger – some say I should be committed – I’ve got an obvious interest. Without doubt the Internet has made information more readily available but, how reliable is that information? Years ago, the stock phrase used to be, “Don’t believe everything you read in the papers”. Today you can substitute online for in the papers.

Gypsy Jazz Festival coming up - in London!

A long awaited Festival of Gypsy Jazz is due to take place in London. For those who love the sound of Le Hot Club then this looks to be a tremendous weekend. The downside is that neither of our northeast bands who perform in, maybe even extend, the idiom are present although Daniel John Martin who impressed northeast audiences with Swing Manouche this past weekend has made the cut.

Tickets. 

Lance

Preview: The Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Whitley Bay Playhouse

The Pasadena Roof Orchestra are no strangers to the northeast appearing at the Playhouse in Alnwick and the Customs House in South Shields at periodic intervals.

As proof of their popularity, this year's Alnwick gig is sold out already! And, although South Shields is off  their current tour schedule all is not lost as the Whitley Bay Playhouse, just across the river, hosts the band on Sunday (March 1) and the good news is that there are still a few tickets available.

The evening of hot dance music from the 1920s and '30s stomps off at 7:30pm.

Lance

Tickets.