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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Hot House Dragons invade the Chilli

Judith Thompson (vln), Willie Angus, Mathew Office (gtr), Jack Lowes (bs).
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Dave Weisser (tpt/vcl), Mathew Office (gtr), Jim Crinson (bs), Barrie Ascroft (pno), Eric Stutt (dms.)
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Another good evening at The Chilli with a stomping set by The Hot House Dragons being the icing on the cake.
Perhaps not as well known collectively as some of the other 'gypsies' lurking in the caravan park the 'Dragons' are, nevertheless, un equipe formidable.
Judith does the Grappelli thing with much aplomb - watch and listen to her sail effortlessly through "Dinah", "Stella By Starlight", "Sweet Georgia Brown", "Georgia on my Mind" and "Lady Be Good" - and Lady Judith can swing good - witness a scintillating version of "Bernie's Tune" and "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing".
The two guitarists offered contrasting approaches. Willie, more like Django, with his Takemine amplified acoustic had that hard metallic sound associated with the idiom whereas young Mathew had the smoother post Django sound. A nice thing about this band is that they add folkier elements into the mix so that it isn't totally Djangolic and they didn't play "Nuages"! Also, unlike many gypsy jazzers, lead and rhythm isn't set out on plectrums of stone which means both players are given equal solo space which they used to display their talents effectively. Jack, on bass soloed imaginatively and kept the pulse rock steady. A band to watch.
Earlier, The Take it to the Bridge gang had played a satisfying set with Barrie Ascroft in particularly fine form. He was up there with the best tonight - his double helping of "Winter Wonderland" more than did justice to that much maligned song; Dave's vocal too was something else verging onto Tormé/Greco territory by way of Bobby McFerrin. For the finale both bands combined for a spirited blast on "St. Thomas".
There were some illustrious visitors tonight. Paul Booth's parents were in town and it was good to meet them. They run the Harbour Jazz Club in Ramsgate and seem to get some decent names including of course their son so, any time you're Ramsgate way...
No Jazz next week - room let out for private function - back on 16th with Alan Glen Trio.
Lance.

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

. tis was cool djazzyschmazz

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