Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

May

Mon 25: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 26: Noel Dennis Sextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00. A Miles Davis centenary concert (Davis b. 26. 5. 1926). Noel Dennis (trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums). SOLD OUT!
Tue 26: Lagos to Longbenton @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Miles Davis & His Favourite Musicians.
Thu 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 28: Bobby Rush @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. + bf. Veteran USA bluesman.
Thu 28: Squabble @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 28: 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 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.

Sat 30: Giles Strong Quartet @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £1.50 bf.

Sun 31: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 31: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 31: Sinfonia of London: Tea Dance @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. Free. John Wilson ensemble performing on the concourse. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin & more.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 31: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 31: Ben Haskins Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Maine Street Jazzmen @ Jazz at the Fell @ the Legion. February 11th

Ray Harley (trumpet), Herbie Hudson (trombone, harmonica & vocals), Jim McBriarty (clarinet, alto sax & vocals), Malcolm Armstrong (piano), Alan Rudd (double bass), Ernie Jackson (drums) & Olive Rudd (vocals) Jazz at the Fell was recently bowled a bouncer by Gateshead Fell Cricket Club resulting in stumps and bails flying this way and that. Undeterred, Ron Pollard & co. have pitched up at the British Legion Club and with luck will occupy the crease for years to come.
The Legion's concert room has a large dance floor, ample seating, a car park and remarkably cheap beer. Book a top jazz band and you're onto a winner.
The ever busy Maine Street Jazzmen had the honour of playing the opening night. A good crowd turned out (some of them late comers - 'I couldn't find it', 'I went straight past it' were comments at the door).
The first number of the night was Just a Little While to Stay Here. A great gospel tune played with due reverence. How to follow that? With a rag - Panama Rag - and two bars in the dance floor was packed. Jim McBriarty sang If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight) and band vocalist Olive Rudd got up to tell us It Had To Be You. New Orleans came to the Legion in glorious style with a Bugle Boy March brolly parade and to quote Herbie Hudson... 'fantastic'. Vocalist Rudd returned to the stage to see out the final over before the interval and she really did Swing That Music.
The interval score: The Maine Street 100 not out, Gateshead Cricket Club all out for 0.
A raffle, a natter, a refill and the second set was under way. Jeepers Creepers, Black and Blue (excellent vocals from Hudson) and Varsity Drag (McBriarty's sober vocal style and excellent alto) came thick and fast. We heard Buddy's Habits and all went home happy parading down Bourbon Street.
The night was a resounding success; Jazz at the Fell @ the Legion and the Maine Street were still at the crease at the end of the night with an unbeaten 1000 not out. The non-jazz cricketing opposition? Nowhere to be seen.
In the coming weeks and months look our for Sammy Rimington, the Hot Antic Jazz Band and many more. Next week (Friday 18th) get along to the Legion (Coatsworth Road, Gateshead) to hear the Rae Brothers. Russell

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