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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

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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