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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17641 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 915 of them this year alone and, so far, 60 this month (Dec. 26).

From This Moment On ...

December

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington (National Trust), Cambo, Morpeth NE61 4AR. 12 noon & 2:00pm. Admission to site £19.00.
Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Archie Brown & Friends @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00-8:00pm. Free.

January 2025

Wed 01: ???

Thu 02: ???

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: John Gregory @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.

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

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

So Who's Minding the Baby?

I'd spent the early evening rehearsing with the Chilli Road Band. It was a good rehearsal and I felt in the mood for more music. I'd semi-promised to go down to the New Crown Hotel in South Shields to catch Ruth Lambert and the Customs House Big Band doing their open rehearsal thing. Indeed, having missed Ruth and the band's, by all reports well received, session at Blaydon last week I felt that it was my duty to go!
However, I'd also promised to look in at Stepney's - a pub in the heart of student diggeryland - where the music graduates from Gateshead College were unveiling their talents to the world. So, accompanied by Russell and Paul Bream, I ventured down some relatively new mean streets passing the intriguingly named Nancy's Bordello en route to the wharehouse like structure that is Stepney's.
I only had time to hear a couple of numbers by Splint'a's - a 9 piece band.
Didn't catch any names but I discovered later, not much later, that the cool guy in the suit was one Jimmy O'Neill. Jimmy sang Sunny and Moondance whilst I was there.
Two great tunes and Jimmy did okay. Nice soprano solo from one of the saxes.
A glance at my watch and South Shields beckoned so I left Russell to take copious notes on the rest of the evening whilst I sped eastwards.
The Customs House Band were in good form as they kicked off their second set with Have You Met Miss Jones. A good stomping arrangement that showed off the band's precision section work to perfection.
Ruth chipped in with I've Got The World on a String - our girl was in good voice. Later she revitalised Blue Moon, Hard Hearted Hannah and S'wonderful.
In between vocals the band paid tribute to Buddy Rich with Big Swing Face, Basie with The Kid From Red Bank whilst tenorist Alan Marshall nodded towards Coleman Hawkins with his take on Body and Soul.
Talking to Ruth between numbers I told her about Stepney's.
"My partner's singing there". she said.
Jimmy O'Neill!
Small world eh?
But I still don't know who's minding the baby - maybe he's got a gig of his own.
Lance.

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