Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 2026)

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

19,066 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 930 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 31) 109.

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

From This Moment On

November

Thu 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 05: Hejira - Celebrating Joni Mitchell @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Thu 05: Cut Capers @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).
Thu 05: Northern Reaches @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations). Pete Tanton, Joe Steels, Laurence Blackadder, John Hirst.
Thu 05: Fergus McCreadie @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 06: Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel, West Allotment. 12 noon. Day 1/3.
Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Jazz Night: Bridget Metcalfe @ Saltburn House Hotel. From 6:00pm. Tickets: £40.00 (inc. a two-course meal & glass of Prosecco). Tel: 01287 658977.
Fri 06: The Exu + Kraabel/Harrison/Birchall @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm. JNE.

Sat 07: Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel, West Allotment. 12 noon. Day 2/3.
Sat 07: Ewan Bleach’s Cable Street Ragtime Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington.
12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. Superb band.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Find Your Pocket: Funk & Groove. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Red Kites Jazz @ Costa Café, St James’ Retail Park, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sat 07: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 6:00pm.

Sun 08: Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel, West Allotment. 12 noon. Day 3/3.
Sun 08: Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 08: Kaberry Big Band @ Forest Hall Social Club. 3:00pm. £7.00 (inc. tea & cake). Charity event for the Poppy Appeal.
Sun 08: Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Bechet-Spanier Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00.; £5.00. Muggsy Spanier was born 125 years ago today (9 November 1901). This afternoon’s all-star quartet - from London, Lewis Taylor (cornet) & Michael McQuaid (reeds), from Paris, Félix Hunot (guitar), from London, Harry Evans (string bass) - salutes Muggsy!
Mon 09: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: Bechet-Spanier Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. Muggsy Spanier was born 125 years ago today (9 November 1901). This evening’s all-star quartet - from London, Lewis Taylor (cornet), from London, Michael McQuaid (reeds), from Paris, Félix Hunot (guitar), from London, Harry Evans (string bass) - salutes Muggsy!

Tue 10: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Becky Tuck (vocals).
Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 11: Plague Doctors Cure All + Noonward @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm. JNE.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Scarborough - Sunday

Sunday morning up with the larks and more unhealthy eating with yet another big fat sausage sandwich - quaintly spelled 'sandwhich' on the menu. A stroll in the sunshine then back to The Spa. My initial reaction to Michael Rosen and the Homemade Orchestra was Curious, Reactionary, Anti-jazz, Performance. Apparently Michael Rosen is some kind of big deal in the world of children's poetry so perhaps I was too old to appreciate his humour which, in my eyes, paled into insignificance alongside that of Alan Barnes. However, to each his own, and I have to admit the parents and their offspring seemed to enjoy it so who am I to criticise? Michael obviously hit the market he was aiming at.
The band did have their moments with Tim Whitehead outstanding on tenor although I could take or leave his recorder playing.
The John Etheridge Christian Garrick Duo was another curates egg - when it was good it was very good but at times I felt a degree of blandness creeping in. For me the highlight was Alan Barnes joining in for a blast on "After You've Gone". Don't get me wrong, Etheridge and Garrick are monsters on their instrument but, for me, a bass player would have been welcomed. Arnie Somogyi's Scenes of the City. This was the real deal. A tribute to Mingus that performed the great man's music to perfection. Many of the pieces were from the album "Mingus Ah Um". Alan Barnes on alto and tenor, Tony Kofi alto and baritone were in top gear throughout and it was sheer Mingusian Magic. The feel good factor was with me.
Down to harbour for some of Harry Ramsden's chips, chatting with Fergie the Banjo en route (the only banjo in Scarborough that day!) then back for a solo set by Liane Carroll.
This girl can sing and play mighty fine piano in a program that had everything including Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, the Coasters' "Love Potion Number Nine" (Lieber and Stoller) - a great fave of mine - as was "Orange Coloured Sky". I recommended this last number to Eric for Debbie to sing with Budvivar if you're reading this Debs...
Finally - Ken Peplowski (clt/ten), Alan Barnes (alt/ten/clt), Dave Newton (pno), Arnie Somogyi (bs) and Steve Brown (dms).
This was the perfect finale five great musicians - what more can I say except - They Delivered!
------
So it was all over, many many highs and very few lows. Also new friends such as Annie from Hull, Liz and Amy from Kent (and their respective spouses where applicable) plus the couple from Manchester who were fans of Claude Werner. Enjoyed meeting you all and I hope we meet up again next year.
Lance.
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