Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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

Friday, March 06, 2009

Bebop Taught Here - Egglescliffe School Jazz Quartet. An Intermission Riff at the Bonded Warehouse, Sunderland

A quartet playing "St. Thomas" and "Billie's Bounce" might prompt you to quote the band's opener "So What?". When the four players are in their early to mid teens it becomes less commonplace and when one of them is a girl blowing boppish tenor then you say to yourself - "Why didn't I go to that school?!"
I don't know any of their names but I'm sure I will do in years to come! (See 'Comments' for first names - it's a start! Then go to Egglescliffe Facebook website. Listen to the downloads and you'll know what I mean - Lance)
This intermission set was one of four that served as an overture to the weekend's Sunderland Big Band Festival.
The opening and closing stints were by the student based Festival Big Band led by Bill Watson and augmented for the occasion by Gordon Marshall on trumpet, Paul Jones (alto) and Colin Haikney (pno). With a line-up of 11 saxes, 2 flutes, 4 trumpets, piano, bass, guitar, drums and, surprisingly, no trombones it isn't difficult to tell what is the 'in' instrument today!
Despite the theoretical inbalance, in practice they sounded good and the trombones weren't unduly missed by this listener.
Paul Jones, who will be leading the saxes of the BBC Big Band tomorrow night, joined Leader Bill Watson (tpt), a blonde girl on tenor who may be called Joanne - correct me someone if I'm wrong - Colin Haikney and the big band's guitar, bass and drums to form a very listenable septet.
The final set by 'les tout ensemble' swung along nicely with some close harmony from a swingy vocal duo whose names I failed to get. Loved their version of NYJO's "The Deflated Bounce".
A very enjoyable evening in a plush(ish) loft that would make an ideal jazz venue and only 60p for a coke - sanity prevails!.
Lance.
PS: If anyone can supply names please do. They should be carved with pride.
at

3 comments :

Anonymous said...

The Egglescliffe Jazz Quartet are all 16 years old and comprise Loretta on Sax, Angus on Double bass, Johnny on keyboard and Thomas on kit.
You're right, watch this space.

Monday, March 09, 2009 11:38:00 am
Anonymous said...

Hey its Tom from the Egglescliffe Jazz Quartet here. Thanks a lot for the review Lance.
The full names are Loretta Tosson(sax), Angus Milne(D.bass), Jonny Walton(keys) and Tom Chapman(kit).
For more info on the group and some of our recordings check out our myspace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=445064234

Monday, March 09, 2009 11:55:00 pm
Lance said...

Excellent tracks and good sound.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 10:58:00 am

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