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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 07: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ 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

Monday, August 23, 2010

Jazz Café Jam Session @ Jazz Café, Newcastle. Sunday 22nd August.

Proprietor Keith Crombie has recently opened the doors of his famed establishment on a Sunday afternoon to anyone wishing to turn up and have a blow. The advertised start of 2:00 pm makes Dave Weisser's workshop session look like a tightly run ship - things got under way at about 4:30 pm! Such was the late start I was able to call into the Bodega, sup a couple of pints of Big Lamp Prince Bishop and watch the match - Newcastle United 6 Aston Villa 0 (the poorest six nil thrashing of a game I've ever seen).
Pianist Pete Gilligan, sometime accompanist to Zoe Gilby, Lindsay Hannon and Ruth Lambert, is the mainstay of the house band. Members of Budvivar (resident alternate Saturdays at the Jazz Café) turned out in force the afternoon after the night before. Pianist Chris Finch played trumpet and, as ever, Stuart Findon played tenor, Jim Crinson played bass and Eric Stutt swung it from the drum stool (Eric showed brilliant logisitcal planning in leaving his kit overnight at the venue) as Fiona Littlewood sang Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise.
Juke joint veteran Round Eyes Ray played harmonica on Nuages with accompaniment from piano, violin and guitar (Matthew Office). Piano player Alan Law turned up and sat in on Beautiful Love and there was a cracking version of Rhythm-a-ning and, to quote Keith Crombie, ''Mark Williams is the best guitarist in the north east''. Agreed Monsieur Crombie!
Mein Host was his usual self; gruff, uttering expletives and at intervals lobbing empty bottles into a bin with expert bad timing - Softly, As in a CRASH!!!. You couldn't make it up. After a while, with many more musicians queuing up to play, I left to place an order at my local Indian takeaway and fully intended to return to the Jazz Cafe. I didn't quite make it. I assume the music went on 'til Crombie time.
Russell.

10 comments :

Robert Laing said...

I had the misfortune of visiting the "Jazz Cafe" one Saturday night, just about a week after I had sat next to "grumpy" Keith at John Wilson's wedding reception (quite a long time ago) at Gershwins on Dean Street, along with all the other jazzers from the area.

After I had paid 12 quid for a taxi to get to Pink Lane, Grumpy stopped me at the door and told me he wasn't letting me in because I had a suit on!!

Lance said...

Taxi? It's only a five minute walk!

Robert Laing said...

Lance........It was the week AFTER Johns reception that I went, not the same day!! It's all in the first three lines, and the taxi ride was from home. I enjoyed reading Russell's summary though.

Lance said...

My apologies!

Gill said...

If anyone sees Keith can u say hello from Gill and thank you for Josephines, the flapper dresses and all the champagne especially for looking after me when I really needed it- they were fab times XX

Lance said...

Gill, I'm sure someone will. I'll be absent for 3 weeks otherwise I'd do it myself - in the meantime I'm intrigued...

Anonymous said...

Sadly Keith died this afternoon . In the best way Keith was never bland and behind the bluster there was the heart of a lion , tremendous kindness and a wicked sence of humour and sometime sheer bloodymindness he will be greatly missed

John Wilson said...

Does anyone know when and where Keiths funeral is?

John Wilson said...

Hi Bob, You dont know about Keiths funeral yet do you?

John Wilson said...

Matk Williams is some guitar player, your quite right trhere Russell.

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