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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 ...

MARCH 2025.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
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.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

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

Tommy Henderson on Eddie Farrow

I was pleasantly surprised to hear some recordings of my late friend EDDIE FARROW, a brilliant pianist who worked for me for three years in my 'sixties band', on the Frank Wappat radio show a while ago.
Eddie worked on the Queen Mary and the QE2 with Nat Gonella's band and Nat once told me a little story about Eddie - He saw Eddie waving to them from the quayside as the ship left harbour (he should have been on board with them ) but he did like a drink or three. They had to fly him to the next venue.
Eddie joined my Latin American group, playing in EMERSON'S Newcastle after my Greek pianist Spiros was unfortunately inducted into the Greek army while on a quick visit home. After EMERSON'S we moved as a resident group to the CLUB A GOGO in Percy Street,where we played for a listening audience in the jazz lounge before moving into the main hall playing Latin American music.
We later moved to Sunderland for the opening of WETHERELLS club where we accompanied the cabarets.
Eddie worked with me until sadly his wife died and he retired for a while returning later to the cruise ships where as well as working with the orchestra he played in the piano lounge and also accompanied the Church services.
Whenever he was on leave he would look me up to say hello and sit in with the boys. It would be nice to hear more memories and stories of Eddie Farrow who sadly passed away in 1977.
Tommy Henderson.

5 comments :

Russell said...

Hi Lance/Tommy

Where was Emerson's. Was it Emerson Chambers on Blackett Street (now occupied by Waterstone's)

Russell

Lance said...

The very same - possibly the first classy wine/dine/dance venue in Newcastle. Not a jazz club but lots of jazz played there.
Re Eddie Farrow; a great pianist who, because of his drink problem, never reached his full potential. In his latter years he had a short spell as resident organist at Jarrow Buffs CIU Club - his talent totally lost on the club audience.
In his autobiography, "A Travelling Musician" Martin Taylor speaks lovingly and sensitively of the summer seasons they played together in Morecombe. As a matter of interest, Maine Street drummer Mike Humble is also mentioned within the pages of that tome. It's a good read.

Hil said...

Mike (Gilby) if he was able would have to have added to the comments about Eddie. Alas due to Mike's continued ill health he is unable to do so.
Mike and Eddie worked on the QE2 with Jimmy Bence's band. They were great pals and enjoyed the jazz clubs that the frequent trips to NYC gave them. This was I know, Mikes reason for working on the ship. He can still (sometimes) recall the great and good that they heard in some little out of the way jazz bar in Manhattan. Not to forget the pilgrimage they made to Hoboken.

R.I.P. Eddie Farrow another great musician and one of life's true characters.

Trevor Wakenshaw said...

Can anyone shed any light on the Jimmy Bence band when they played Newcastle Mayfair in the mid 60's? In particular the singer they had at the time named John Little (though he may have used the name Osbourne as well).

Lance said...

Trevor - Could this be Johnny De Little who is on at Louis' Restaurant, Jesmond on Tuesday Jan 25?

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