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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

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

Thursday, June 02, 2011

The Maine Street Jazzmen, Sinatra and a cat called Ginger.

Olive Rudd (vcl); Ray Harley (tpt); Iain MacAulay (tmb, vcl); Jim McBriarty (clt, vcl); George Richardson (pno); Alan Rudd (bs); Mike Humble (dms).
A hot day - 22 degrees no less and it seemed to affect our cat Ginger who was off his food. When Ginger doesn't eat alarm bells ring. I left him a plate of prawns which usually has recuperative qualities.
It was warm on the number 27 bus. So much so that I hopped off on Westoe Rd and called into the used cd and vinyl store. This is a good shop which has quite a bit of jazz. However, rather than compartmentalise it it is mixed in with everything from Abba to Zeppelin and as such not easy to find.
The owner saw me looking at a Sinatra album - "We have every Sinatra album under the counter."
That phrase took me back to Dad's Army so I decided to test him out. "Moonlight Sinatra?".
Seconds later he handed me an immaculate copy of the LP!
"How much?" I asked suspiciously - 'under the counter' items are usually premier priced.
"£4".
I didn't even haggle the disc looked virtually unplayed.
So it was purchased and I headed down to Rosie Malone's my day made already.
The bitter I opted for was Boondiggle - a summer ale that blended perfectly with the weather.
Bill and Mary were back from Spain, John and Jill back from the '100 Club', Charlie and his confrere back from wherever they'd been - in fact the only person who wasn't back was Herbie who is still in Turkey.
Much conversation centred around the death of Dave Connolly although as yet no details are known.
As regards the music everyone was on form. Ray hitting them on the nail, George playing some beautiful embellishments before nailing it. Jim singing and swinging on gobbo and vocal. Iain too had a vocal feature - Georgia on My Mind. A splendid afternoon.
I returned home and opened the door, the prawns were gone. and Ginger had a contented smile on his face.
Sinatra sounded good too!
Lance.

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