Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 2026)

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

18721 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 585 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 18) 49

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

From This Moment On

July

Sat 25: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitgerald. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Costa Café (within Next), MetroCentre, Gateshead. 2:00-3:00pm. Free.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Bright Street Big Band @ Sandhaven Amphitheatre, South Shields. 3.30-5.30pm.
Sun 26: Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.
Sun 26: King Bees @ Luckies, Jesmond, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues.

Mon 27: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: Liam & Shayo @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Liam Oliver (guitar), Shayo Oshodi (vocals).

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Abbie Finn Trio @ Music Dept., Durham University. 9:15pm. A Durham Fringe Festival event

Thu 30: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.50.
Thu 30: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes. .

Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Milne Glendinning Band @ Repas 7 by Night, Berwick. 8:00-9:00pm. £6.00. A Berwick Fringe Festival event. £6.00 (£6.00 wristband access to all Fringe events).

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Customs House Big Band with Ruth Lambert @ Customs House, South Shields.

Peter Morgan (MD/bs tmb), Ruth Lambert (vcl), Gordon Marshall, Ken de Vere, Paul Riley-Gledhill, Michael Lamb (tpts). Gareth Weaver, Chris Gurgit-Smith, Mike Fletcher, (tmbs). Jill Brett (alt/flt), Elaine Willis (alt), Alan Marshall, Kim Webb (ten), Chris Kaberry (bar). Bill Britain (pno), Tom Patterson (bs gtr), Roy Willis (gtr), David Francis (dms).
This was another good concert by the ever popular Customs House Big Band who, yet again, pulled a good crowd to their home base.
The theme was show songs and we were treated to a selection of superb big band versions of some of the most well-loved tunes that began life on 'The Great White Way'.
Peter Morgan, leader and raconteur, directed the band, played ensemble bass trombone and gave much information on the background of each number.
The band itself had a couple of changes. Jim McBriarty has departed (there are just so many bands a guy can play with!) He was replaced by Kim Webb on second tenor. Kim, incidentally is the daughter of well known local jazz singer Mia Webb.
Jack the bass has gone to pastures south to be replaced by Tom the bass guitar.
Alan Marshall did the tenor solos justice with his coolish sound whilst Jill Brett not only has the lead alto pad down pat but also rattled off some good solos. Gareth Weaver took most of the trom solos although all three let rip on How High The Moon.
Mike Lamb shouldered the brunt of the trumpet solos with Paul Riley-Gledhill doing his bit on Summertime.
Bill Britain featured on Softly as in a Morning Sunrise as well as arranging September Song at a nice bouncy tempo unlike the original which I always find slightly turgid.
Alongside Bill, 'Uncle' Roy Willis and Tom Patterson provided the pulse with David Francis putting the boot in.
Too many great numbers to mention them all but, for me, perhaps the most interesting was Fascinating Rhythm which had some fascinating tempo/time changes.
MD Peter even managed to give Bebop Spoken Here a mention!
Nice one.
Lance.
PS: If you're wondering why I haven't mentioned super singer Ruth Lambert it is because our Woman's Editor Ann is preparing her own take on the vocal/fashion side of it - watch this space!
Also a reminder - catch the band and Ruth for free at the open rehearsal/concert at the New Crown, South Shields, on Tuesday Oct 5 at 7:30pm.

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