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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

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

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Saturday Afternoon at the Gateshead Jazz Festival

I like the Saturday afternoon session and not just because I go to the free ones! There's a relaxed, no pressure feel about it both on the Concourse and at the Jazz Lounge Jam Session.
Of course there are drawbacks. The Concourse acoustics tend to favour the larger ensmbles as opposed to the combos and vocalists.
Nevertheless, things got off to a good start with HCW (Hirst, Carr & Worsley) whom I've wrote of in the past. They played a solid set considering they were facing a slightly blasé audience who were possibly distracted by the spidermen duo cleaning the windows behind them! As they say in show business - never follow a kid, a dog or a window-cleaner act.
In the Jazz Lounge lots of young hopefuls were strutting their stuff. Backed by Stu Collingwood, Ken Marley and David Carnegie, James, the young guitarist from the Chillingham, had a blast on "Stella", "A girl did things to "St Thomas" on trumpet, Dave Weisser "Satin Dolled" with Dan, a promising young drummer from Prudhoe, who could have had a little more solo space whilst Noel Dennis compered and blew some good horn.
Back on the Concourse, Paul Edis, Graham Hardy and Mick Shoulder had a very listenable half hour with "Waltz for Debby" doing the business.
More jam then it was Ruth Lambert with Paul E and Andy Champion. Ruth opened with "West Coast Blues" a number associated with Zoe who was sitting down front.
Unfortunately, the Concourse acoustics could have been kinder this time around. Nevertheless, as ever, Ruth overcame the obstacles and delighted her fans which, of course, includes me .
I had to leave at this point but I will be back tonight for Sheila Jordan. Sheila, incidentally, was involved in a triple header with Cleveland Watkiss and Ian Shaw this afternoon. Anyone who cares to write a brief review on the event are cordially invited to.
Lance.

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Hi Lance,
I am the drummer from Prudhoe you reviewed in your "Bebop spoken here" article and I just wanted to say thank you for your great words. Its always nice to receive some recognition for something you enjoy.
I got your leaflet whilst I was at the jam session and it has been quite useful as I am trying to find the local jazz clubs so I can go and see more live jazz!
Well, many thanks and keep up the good blog.

Dan

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