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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

Friday, January 15, 2010

Some Random Reflections.

Unfortunately, circumstances decreed I was unable to get to Ernie Graham's funeral today so I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise and to pass on my deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
He was a great guy and much missed, not just at Blaydon, by everyone in came in contact with.
R.I.P.
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On a happier note but still connected to Blaydon Jazz I note there is an interview with Paul Booth in this month's Jazz Journal.
Paul began his jazz career playing at Blaydon whilst still in his early teens before going on to receive international aclaim. As the person who sold him his first tenor I hope to dine out on that for many more years to come!
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A Facebook article by Serious Music entitled "Jazz in Memoriam" that I overlooked is of interest mentioning both Chris Yates and Ian Carr.
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Tonight, on BBC4, there is a wealth of jazz albeit 'tonight' is a misnomer as most of it is in the early hours of Saturday morning!
So I guess it will be Catch-up TV or BBC iplayer.
For the record:
10:45 pm: Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers - Jazz 625.
11:25 pm: MJQ - Jazz 625
00:45 am: Oscar Peterson - Jazz 625.
02:15 am: Thelonious Monk - Jazz 625.
02:50 The Jazz Baroness - Arena.
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Live action tonight at The Jazz Café, Pink Lane with the Safe Sextet and at Gateshead Fell Cricket Club where Jazz at the Fell presents the Mississippi Dreamboats with guest trumpet player Martyn Sharp.
Lance.

4 comments :

Roly said...

The funeral was very much a positive celebration of Ernie's life, his special character and maverick inclination. He was very much his own man. Some hilarious anecdotes and much laughter.
An uplifting experience! I've never been to a funeral quite like this and think Ernie would be looking down and smiling in approval too. The service ended with that stunning a cappello version of 'All the things' by Singers Unlimited (check out Spotify).
Yes sad to realise he is no longer with us but what a unique and fulfilled life. And a very nice get together afterwards at The White Swan.
I have a feeling Dinnington will never be quite the same again.
Roly

cptfinch said...

Thanks for the heads up about the jazz tonight Lance. I'll be recording da lot.

Lance said...

The choice of Singers Unlimited was very apt. I recall him coming into J.G.Windows music store when I worked there. He gave me a tape of Singers Unlimited and said "If you want to know about harmony listen to this."
I've posted "All The Things You Are" by The Singers Unlimited for those of us who didn't get to the service.

Miles. said...

In St. Matthew's Church at Dinnington today it was standing room only and not much of that left, people were even sitting in the choir stalls. The Rev. Mark Edwards gave a resume of Ernie's life, at times, as Roly said, bringing laughter to the assembled congregation of family, village folk, neighbours and friends. He asked for and got a round of applause for him. Gill a friend also gave some personal reminiscences and despite the conventional black accoutrements it was a good celebration of Ernie. Afterwards folks repaired to the White Swan for a buffet, old friends were met and new ones made, Ann and the family were surely heartened by the turnout, and as the old cliche has it "if Ernie had been here he would have enjoyed it".
Miles

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