Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

September.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Dave Connolly Shock News!

I heard last night the sad news that well known Teesside trumpet player and band leader Dave Connolly has died. No further details are available at present. Lance. YouTube link from John Moorley.

5 comments :

Anonymous said...

Very, very sad. Dave was an amazing guy.

Anonymous said...

he was a great musician/ arranger/engineer, he will be missed , stu c

Anonymous said...

RIP Dave - you will be deeply missed. Fiona & Steve

john moorley said...

I first got to know Dave last autumn. I’d seen him around College and in the White Horse where he was a regular and where my girlfriend and I occasionally visit late Saturday pm. I introduced myself; we immediately warmed to each other, clearly shared taste in music and seemed to have much else in common.

When we had spoken to him about three times he produced two complimentary tickets for us to attend the Newcastle City Hall last November where he had put together a big band and produced the arrangements for the whole evening where Jason Isaacs was the featured singer. It was a terrific evening. Here is a clip from the event - he appears within the first 15 secs and little thereafter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JItw1jEpwYo&feature=related

I last spoke to Dave about 2 weeks ago when I crossed the road for a meal in the White Horse and we conversed for about 40 minutes. We talked of his 'new' car, his recent and future ‘gigs’ and his enthusiasm in developing the degree course with Sunderland. His company was always most congenial.

With my limited acquaintanceship, he seemed to be thoroughly nice man with a keen sense of humour. His overriding quality seemed to be modesty. To misquote a well-known phrase, "He was extremely modest with little to be modest about". When Jason Isaacs paid tribute to him at the concert, he was hiding somewhere at the back of the stage instead of receiving the much-deserved applause.

Three weeks ago he attended the funeral of Alfie Hines, a major big band music presence in Darlington whom he had known for years and who organised the Darlington Youth Band in the late 60s and 70s and in which Dave was member. The Band gained national acclaim and well-known Jazz men attended. Recently BBC4 showed a young looking Johnny Dankworth playing with Darlington Youth Band in the early 1970s. Dave told me of his playing in Eric Delaney's Band for several years and playing in support to PJ Proby, Anita Harris and what seemed a roll call of 1970s – 90s glitterati. I was looking forward to pursuing these threads further.

I mourn Dave’s departure out of all proportion to the length of time I have known him and my 8 hours or so in his company.

John Moorley
Until recently, Chair of Bishop Auckland College

Dave Priestman said...

Hope you play better golf up there mate.
DAVE PRIESTMAN

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