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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

1803759 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 480 of them this year alone and, so far, 58 this month (June 18).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sat 21: Jason Holcomb Jazz Ensemble @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 5:30-7:30pm. Free. A 'Sunderland Year of Music' event.
Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

Thu 26: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Brass Instruments & the use of mutes.

Fri 27: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Time After Time’.

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

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Keith Stephen's Hot Club Trio w. Steve Andrews @ Ashington Jazz Club August 4.

Steve Andrews (ten/alt/clt.whistle), Keith Stephen (gtr/bjo), Roly Veitch (gtr/vcl), Bruce Rollo (bs.)
Suffering from withdrawal symptoms, (No Splinter at The Bridge etc.) We ventured further north to The Elephant at Ashington expecting to be charmed by Caroline Irwin vocals and Keith Stephen's Hot Club Trio. The Trio were on fine form but Caroline had a sore throat and had been replaced by the "slightly less than petite" Steve Andrews.
However! We received a very warm welcome at the door and joined quite a large audience for what turned out to be a very enjoyable evening.
The Trio - Keith Stephen who makes and plays his own instruments, Guitars and Banjos! - with our very own (Blaydon) Roly Veitch on rhythm guitar and vocals and Bruce Rollo on Bass began the proceedings with a Django number Rue Vingt Six and I imagined myself round the fire in a Gypsy encampment, very exciting.
The Trio were then joined by their guest of very short notice Mr Steve Andrews with a selection of instruments namely alto and tenor Sax, (I think?) clarinet and penny whistle. I will not list all of the numbers but a delightful smattering of Stardust was followed by such numbers as Say It Isn't So with Roly vocals. Swing Gitane another Django piece and various others from that well known Song Book.
In the interval Roly had a request to sing one of his Canny Tyne Side songs, I have forgotten the name of the woods involved but some poor soul made the mistake of falling for a strumpet called Rose and paid the price. Very Entertaining. (Ed-The Ha'penny Woods of Bedlington)
The Second half included one of Roly's own compositions Calypso Jim, one or two more from the book and Nuages (That means Clouds in French) another Django number and then the evening came to an end with Keith on Banjo (and singing) plus Steve on Alto playing Sheik of Araby.
We may have initially been disappointed by the absence of Caroline but Steve played with such feeling and sensitivity with the excellent backing of the trio that we felt very glad we had ventured out to hear something rather different to out normal taste and had enjoyed it greatly.
J & K
PS: Other numbers, I'm told on authority, included; Swing Gitane, Swing 39, Minor Swing, There Will Never be Another You, China Boy, Exactly Like You, I Saw Stars, I'm Confessin', Sweet Sue.
PPS: Photo courtesy of Peter S

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