Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 2026)

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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

From This Moment On

September.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Customs House Big Band with Ruth Lambert @ Saville Exchange, North Shields

Gordon Marshall, Ken De Vere, Paul Riley-Gledhill, Michael Lamb (tpts). Peter Morgan (md/bs.tmb), Keiron Parnaby, Dave Brocklesby, Mike Fletcher, (tmb). Jill Brett, Elaine Willis (alt), Graeme Wilson, Leah Tether (ten), Chris Atkinson (bar), Bill Britain (pno), Roy Willis (gtr), Jack Lowe (bs), David Francis (dms), Ruth Lambert (vcl).
With England taking on the might of Algeria in the World Cup it perhaps wasn't surprising that there were a few empty seats dotted around the Saville Exchange. Nevertheless, in hindsight, the scoreline might read Big Band Fans 10 Soccer Fans 0 when it comes to weighing up the entertainment factor.
The Customs House Big Band themselves fielded a few subs but they were no ordinary subs.
Graeme Wilson and Leah Tether on tenors, more than did the business.
In fact Graeme, the sole male in the sax section, had an extended solo cum coda on Blue Bossa as well as a few shorter ones on other numbers that let North Shields know, what we already knew, just how good and versatile a player he is.
Leah had some nice moments too taking the opening solo on Basie's Straight Ahead. Jill Brett, on lead alto, blew several good solos and it has to be said she sounded great. Lovely silky tone particularly on her spotlighted piece of Ellingtonia.
Jack Lowe, leaving the band and the area after this gig, took centre stage for his bass feature - Bernie's Tune - and didn't disappoint - we wish him well. Trumpet solos were, in the main, by Michael Lamb who always delivers the goods.
Which brings me to Ruth. The girl was in good voice - is she ever anything else? - and we were treated to exquisite versions of Fever, Someone to Watch Over Me, My Heart Belongs to Daddy, Mambo Italiano, Come Fly With Me, Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend, Summertime, Alright Okay You Win and The Man I Love.
Band numbers that impressed included Flight of the Foo Birds, Love for Sale, plenty Gordon Goodwin charts and a nice version of Easy to Love by pianist Britain.
Throughout, the rhythm section played with Basie-like precision.
A good gig, my only crit was that the soloists needed miking when playing over the top of the ensemble.
A cracking night.
Lance.
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