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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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

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.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

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

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Just Another Manic Sunday (Jazzwise!)

I love the Jazz Café Sunday Afternoon Jam Session. There is a feel about it that tells you that this is what jazz is all about.
A handful of guys and gals blowing/singing - creating.
Lyndsay was in great voice on Willow Weep and, particularly, the upbeat Deed I Do This latter tune jumped from the moment Meade Lux Gilligan started hitting those eighth note appegios in the left hand and pummelling block chords in the right. Pete was telling the cats on stage to move it - and move it they did!
Ms Hannon got the groove going and Mark Williams, the two saxes, and the fiddler - Elaine Binney - took it up.
It was g-o-o-d..... Eric Stutt and Paul Grainger made sure it stayed that way. Keep this session going Keith - I love it!
Talking 'bout the fiddler - Elaine took an extended chorus on My Funny Valentine that was quite simply beautiful. Lyndsay's vocal wasn't bad either! As the animated inebriate sitting in front of me said, "It was medolic (sic)"
And it really was. But I shouldn't single out! Everyone who gets up and blows at the JC is adding their page to jazz history
I reluctantly moved on down the road to the Bridge Hotel where If Destroyed Still True - conveniently abbreviated to IDST - were appearing as part of the Splinter Sunday night sessions. Jazz Café Photos.
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After leaving the feel-good factor of the Jazz Café for the sombreness of The Bridge I sensed, by the lack of bar activity, that this wasn't going to be a one for the diary...
Simon Kayler (ten/sop), Simon Beddoe (tpt/flg), Johnny Tomlinson (pno), Nick Tyson (gtr), Seth Bennett (bs), Tommy Evans (dms).
IDST are a great band - I love them, having heard them a couple of years back at Scarborough.
Tonight they made everyone - which wasn't many - realise what a good band they are and they were playing original material.
There were moments when they swung like as though Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers had been re-born in the 21st century! Tempo changes, floating, drifting rhythms - hard blowing. An amazing sound for an unmiked front-line.
Original material. This is always the stumbling block I have.
Is anyone going to be whistling these originals as they go to work tomorrow?
Is anyone going to work tomorrow?
Lance.
Next week HCW (replacing the Carpus Trio).

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