Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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, February 28, 2011

Alex Welsh photo details wanted.

Alan Rudd sent me this photo of the Alex Welsh Band taken, he thinks in the early '70s, at a local (north east) venue. Alan isn't sure of the complete line-up and would like some help as to trombone, banjo, date and location. Trombone - ? Bass - Harvey Weston Cornet - Alex Welsh Drums - Lennie Hastings Saxes - Al Gay ? Banjo - ? Piano - Fred Hunt. Can anyone help? Lance.

10 comments :

Lance said...

The vibes down front indicate that it might be Roger Nobes on drums.

John T said...

The unmistakable Jim Douglas is the banjo/gtr.
Trombone the late, great Campbell Burnap.

Roly said...

I heard a great Welsh concert at The County, opposite Central Station. Not sure of date - late
70s or early 80s maybe. It included Roy Williams, John Barnes, Fred Hunt, Jim Douglas.
A wonderful band and the stuff of British jazz legend.
Those Welsh/Hunt duets were sublime.
The late Randolph Heads was a big fan and knew them all, had all the albums etc.
There was the story of the band going into BBC through security and a security guard asking who they were. It's the Alex Welsh Band said an indignant Alex - oh I need some ID Mr Welshband said the guard.
Roly

Ann Alex said...

Roly, from Ann Alex
I'm at home laughing out loud at your story. It's 11.20 at night and I think the neighbours will apply to have me sectioned shortly!

carstairs said...

OOyah! OOyah! It's not Lennie on the drums. Roger Nobes
Campbell on tromb; Jim Douglas g; Al Gay Tenor; Alex playing a King MASTER cornet - maybe the one Wild Bill gave him?
I used to go to the Fishmonger's Arms in Wood Green on Sunday Nights in the days when Roy Crimmins played trombone. Great player but when Roy Williams took over ........

Ken said...

I think that this picture was taken in the late 70's or early 80's during the last years of the Welsh Band - the line up is Campbell Burnap (trombone), Jim Douglas (guitar), Alex, Roger Nobes(drums), Al Gay (saxes/clarinet), Pete Skivington (bass guitar) and Fred Hunt (piano).

terry said...

obviousley Alex on cornet,Jim Douglas on guitar and wthout a doubt the great Al Gay on sax and clarinet.Can anyone tell me the wherabouts of Al,we were friends with him for some years but lost contact,just sending christmas cards,this year the post office returned my new years card that I sent him marked gone away.My greatest fears are that he is no longer with us.Does anyone know?
Terry

Lionel Leighton said...

I would also like to know the wherabouts of Al Gay. He's my cousin and I haven't been in contact since I spoke to him on the phone when my mother died (his aunt Lilian)in 1979. The last I knew he was in Flitwick nr. Luton Befordshire. Al Gay wasn't his birth name. It was Albert Goldstein.

Lionel Leighton

Anonymous said...

!FISHMONGERS c1960...BIG AL...but wasnt alex a tuesday man...along with alternatives sandy brown and bruce turner...great club...shame ken colyer wasnt a regular...enter tottenham jazz club...mike cotton...good then...

Wayne1963 said...

Can anyone tell the reason, or meaning behind the shouts of "OOyah! OOyah!" (If there is one)

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