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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, June 30, 2010

Schmazz @ The Cluny: More on Troyka & Corey Mwamba Trio. Tuesday 29th June.

Troyka: Chris Montague (guitar), Kit Downes (organ) & Joshua Blackmore (drums)
Troyka, the current big noise on the contemporary jazz scene, arrived in the Ouseburn Delta to be greeted by an enthusiastic and sizeable crowd on another sweltering evening in Newcastle. Local lad Chris Montague has the right credentials to be a top-flight left-field guitarist: he hails from Gateshead and his name is Chris. Seemingly the Borough of Gateshead breeds such wizards of the fretboard - Chris (trio VD, Acoustic Ladyland, Spelk) Sharkey being another. It is an indication of Montague's standing that he can call upon in-demand players such as Downes and Blackmore to play material largely his own. The material was wide-ranging: delicate sketches, drum 'n' bass workouts and a magical blues number entitled Crawler. The latter number, to feature on the band's soon to be recorded second CD, demonstrated Montague's prodigious technique allied to exquisite touch and a real feeling for a blues.
Corey Mwamba Trio: Corey Mwamba (vibraphone), Dave Kane (double bass) & Joshua Blackmore (drums)
Corey Mwamba is, apparently, a self-taught vibes player. Having witnessed his playing it is hard to believe that he could play as he did - that of a virtuoso. Mwamba was joined for this, his first performance on Tyneside, by bassist Dave Kane and drummer Joshua Blackmore - both well known to north east audiences. Yes, Blackmore was on double-time having played the first set with Troyka. This set had an acoustic feel - on occasion Double Time Blackmore used brushes and hurried thing along with some double-time passages. Kane bowed (and scraped!), then slapped, then from time to time took a line for a walk. Mwamba played with two, then four, then six mallets - impressive stuff, lyrical and swinging. Those readers who know of Jim Hart's vibes playing will surely be impressed on hearing Corey Mwamba.
Corey Mwamba makes a quick return to the Ouseburn appearing with Alexander Hawkins at the Cumberland Arms (across the Ouseburn and up the hill) on Friday 9th July.
Russell.

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