I received the following sad news this morning:
"Hi Lance. You may have already heard but Kevin Savin died yesterday (May 12) in Spain. He moved there when he retired some years ago and had spent the last few weeks in a hospice. Kevin was a really good banjo player and played with the Bill Croft Jazzmen during the 1950's before having short spells with various other bands. Unfortunately his committments with his day-time job prevented him from playing on a regular basis, but he never lost interest in the music. He will be sadly missed by all his friends in the UK.
Gordon."
This is indeed sad news. although I'd lost touch with Kevin over the years I have a vivid memory - no 'vivid' isn't the right word, substitute 'hazy' - travelling through France to Northern Spain in Kevin's Caravette destination the San Sebastian Jazz Festival. Kevin did the driving whilst Charlie Carmichael, Ronnie Young and I did the drinking. We'd stop off at French villages to replenish our stocks of food and wine (mainly wine). Although, because he was driving, Kevin was forced to abstain it nevertheless didn't stop him from sharing the laughs and joining in the fun we had along the way.
Lance.
For the past eighteen years we've been updating the world about jazz in the north east of England and updating the north east of England about jazz in the world. WINNER of the Jazz Media Category in the 2018 All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Contact lanceliddle@gmail.com
Bebop Spoken There
Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26
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
18122 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1086 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 31), 100
From This Moment On ...
JANUARY 2026
Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 07: FILM: Blue Moon @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Dir. Richard Linklater’s biopic of Lorenz Hart.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 08: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones of 1976.
Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.
Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.
Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
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
Friday, May 13, 2011
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5 comments :
Hi Lance,
Very sorry to hear this news, it was Kevin who send me a letter, a couple of years ago now, along with my fathers original Besson trumpet, that I have had restored and use, then I had another letter saying he was going to move to Spain.
I will always remember Kevin with Peter Gascoigne and The Vieux Carre Jazzmen,at the Corner House in the very early 80's, and Kevin playing with that smile on his face and Peter telling the audience that he beams like a very bright lighthouse...
God Bless Him...
Colin Aitchison
Hong Kong
I remember his laugh full toned, hearty and loud - it could drown out the band!
A very nice man! I played with him in the Savoy Jazzmen in Durham in 1973/74 at the Redhills Hotel. He was always laughing at something. He only occasionally took a banjo solo (being a gentleman) but very often broke a string when he did - possibly due to the rest of the band turning round to him and chanting in rhythmic fashion "break-a-string, break-a-string, break-a-string......" in time with the solo.
I'm very sorry to hear of his passing.
I fondly remember the campervan trip to San Sebastian and Kevin's incredibly loud laugh.
Having been follicle challenged since an early age, he rejoiced in his role in the Big Band audience as "The North Shields Lighthouse" when I would use the lights glinting on his shiny pate as a reference point for navigating around that crowded University Theatre Bar. (I can't remember who the South Shields Lighthouse was - but there was another chap who always stood at the other side near the door),
Ref Kevin - just close your eyes and you see that big smiley face and just wait for the roaring laugh.
RIP Kevin.
Sorry this is a very belated comment, I am a Welshman who ended up working in Darlington. I met a Kevin Savin who I think was a mobile accountant going to firms / businesses in the area. We started to drink together and he introduced me to Newcastle Brown Ale. He invited me to a club near the arched bridge in Newcastle, to my surprise he appeared on stage playing a banjo, I had a very memorable time the like of which has stayed with me to this day. The man I knew fits the description in your blogs to a tee. If it his him his memory will live on with me until my passing. I am going to put my email on this communication in the hope somebody will confirm his type of employment and maybe a photograph. I have other stories about my trip to Newcastle which show what a lively lad he was.
Carl Bigmore. Newport South Wales. clbigmore@btinternet.com
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