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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

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 23, 2009

Vieux Carre Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. December 23rd.

Brian Bennett (banjo), Fred Rowe (trumpet & vocals), Barry Soulsby (clarinet & vocals), Lawrence McBriarty (trombone), Johnny Handle (keyboards & vocals), Dave Percy (electric bass) & Fred Thompson (drums & vocals).
Today's regular Wednesday lunchtime session with the Vieux Carre was party time down by the seaside. A good number of folk turned out just a couple of days before the festive season sees all musical activities cease - well, for twenty four hours at least.
Garish waistcoats donned, garish bow ties tied and off we went with many familiar tunes honed to near perfection by the VCJ.
Fred Rowe was in fine form on trumpet and vocals. Barry Soulsby played ever inventive flowing lines, Lawrence McBriarty knows all the tunes and from time to time growled, friendly like, on plunger mute.
'Careless Love', 'Mandy' and a hot 'Dr. Jazz' with Fred Thompson taking the vocals, were just some of the tunes on offer today.
I half expected a buffet - I don't know why - but it didn't materialise. The interval raffle prizes included a painting by local artist Eddie Russell - it went first pick (a good choice by the lucky winning ticket holder).
The second set began with Johnny Handle taking to the stage to play two tunes - 'Keep Yer Feet Still Geordie Hinny' and a Handle original, a rag called 'Malvern Swings'.
Handle played double bass with the Vieux Carre way back. He then went on to write his name in folk music history as founder of Folk Song and Ballad (the club thrives half a century on, although now known as the Bridge Folk Club) and as a member of the High Level Ranters. It was great to hear him play some jazz (it would have been better still to have heard him play the upright piano tucked away around the corner).
Silly Santa hats and beards were afixed yet they didn't stop trumpeter Rowe and 'bone man McBriarty from stoking it up on 'Jingle Bells'. Dave Percy, depping on bass, fitted in well and MC Mr.Bennett kept the band in order and things to time.
More Vieux Carre festive goings-on can be had on Monday night (28th) at the Corner House in Heaton and again next Wednesday afternoon (30th) at the Crescent Club.
Russell.

1 comment :

Lance said...

After Monday's culinary experience at the Jazz in the Afternoon Banquet I would have fully expected a buffet from the VC!
I suppose it was too much to expect to have Johnny Handle AND a buffet.
Monday's raffle prizes included fish and chips for two at the chippy next door and a 'Calendar Boys' calendar of the band.

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