Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

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, May 14, 2010

Pelican Post

Following several mentions in BBSH of the Emcee Five, I’m sure I remember seeing them playing at a club at the top of Northumberland Street, above what was then the News Theatre. I think the club was called the Pelican Club but I might be wrong about that. Has anyone recollections, or more info?
Jack Goodwin.
(The above photo has Ian Carr in his pre Emcee Five days at the Pelican Club. Ronnie McLean is the trombonist and Don Armstrong the sax player - Lance.)

4 comments :

Hil said...

Was the club later called the 'Tatler' club? During the day it was a Chinese restaurant. Then about 9-00pm it became a night-club. Mike worked there in the resident band.
I was working as a 'fire-woman' in 1970 and after a late shift I used to get changed out of my uniform, get glammed up and walk up from Pilgrim Street Fire Station.

"Oh happy days"


p.s. There is photographic evidence of my career as a fire-woman (for those who may doubt it?..lol..)

Lance said...

Did you start fires or put them out?
I suppose when you say 'glammed up' it meant you went from hoses to hosiery.
I saw you wearing a fire-person's helmet on Facebook but I thought you were at a fancy dress party!
and yes, I think you are right about them being one and the same club.

Jack said...

I said that the Pelican Club was based in the News Theatre building. I now realise that it was in the same building which housed the Tatler cinema at the top of Northumberland Street. The News Theatre was in Pilgrim Street. But the club was definitely called The Pelican Club and my wife Audrey remembers going there - before we met, as it happens, at a Peter Deuchar jazz party!!

Lance said...

There were in fact three News Theatres. One in Westgate Road, the one that is now the Tyneside Cinema and the Tatler which, according to the link, was originally Louis Bertorelli's café.It then the Pelican Club and then the Tatler night club.
I have the feeling that, in the 1940's it was also some form of Jazz Record Society on a Sunday afternoon.

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