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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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, August 01, 2011

Identity Parade!

Lance, I was looking up some information on Newcastle Jazz in the '50s and I came across a mention of the Newcastle Jazz Club in the Royal Arcade and a link to a photograph. I couldn't find the photograph but I contacted Steve Ellwood who owns the site http://www.steve-ellwood.org.uk/ and he kindly sent me a copy and gave me permission to use it. Steve tells me that this was sent to him a long time ago and he can't remember the source but it was named Royal Arcade - Newcastle Jazz Club and he thought the band was George Hornsby's. It looks a bit posh for a Jazz Club and I was told that George used to have a residency at the Milvain, could it be there? If you think any of your readers might have an input please feel free.
Alfred Stone.

12 comments :

Lance said...

Well Alf, I never was in the Arcade Jazz Club as it was a little before my time. However, the arcade was quite an elegant place so it is possible.
I don't recall George Hornsby either although they look to be a dance band rather than the trad outfits that played at the club.
As regards the Milvain, I only knew it after the fire in 1960 so I couldn't comment on that either.
Which means that it's up to any guys out there old enough to remember the Royal Arcade Jazz Club or the Milvain in it's glory days as a dance hall. I seem to recall that Freddy Stebbings had a residency there in the 1950s.
Suggestions please.

Roly said...

Before my time too Lance but interesting you mention Freddy Stebbings - my Uncle Ron (Scone) Veitch (drummer) was my dad's youngest brother. He played a long term residency with Freddy (in a trio) at The Pineapple Club at Elswick. I went along to see them a few times - it included s good jazzy pianist who's name I can't remember. The pianist played me some blues and boogie woogie which I liked at the time. Early 60s I would think. I was getting into jazz then - via Peterson mainly (I got the Night Train album and was hooked). Its not Ron on the photo though.
Roly

Miles said...

Hi Lance, That picture is not the Jazz club in the Royal Arcade which was in the Socialist Hall which was also used for "spuggie" (spiritual) meetings. It was a fairly small, grungy, oblong room upstairs at the far end of the Arcade I was only there twice, once to see Josh White the folk & blues singer, he sang the House Of The Rising Sun & I sometimes wonder if that's where the Animals got the song from. I also saw Mick Mulligan & Melly there with Ronnie McLean depping on trombone.
I was once or twice at the Milvain the band had M H on the music stands whoever they were. The most everlasting memory of the place is dodging the battles. Oh happy days (mid fifties).
Miles

Jack Goodwin said...

That certainly wasn't the Arcade Jazz Club. I played there with Clem Avery, John Wheatley, John Saxelby, Peter Deuchar, Eric Miller, etc, etc. and we used to practice there on a fairly regular basis. One highlight was when Big Bill Broonzy visited the Club. Peter Deuchar gave him a bottle of ten year old malt and Bill just sang and sang - accompamied by the resident local musicians for some numbers. A great memory.
Jack Goodwin.

Alf Stone said...

Lance and friends.
Thanks for your input.
Regards,
Alf

Anonymous said...

any more info on the freddie stebbings band

Unknown said...

This photo was taken in the Milvain and my grandad was playing the drums in the photo

Lance said...

Thanks (not) a lot for that! As you don't give your name or that of your grandfather we're no further forward apart from the fact that it confirms that it was the Milvain on Westgate Rd.

Nick Wright said...

My grandad was called Jack Wright who came from Blaydon and all I can tell you was the man playing the trumpet was called Ronnie

Lance said...

Nick, I remember Jack Wright - if it's the same one. Occasionally played drums at the Bluebell in Felling on a Sunday lunchtime with Arthur and Billy Luke and Teddy Langston - this would be mid-1960s

Unknown said...

Icm not sure, I was born in the late 60s and can never remember my grandad ever playing drums from that time onwards but I will have a word with my dad and see if he remembers anything else about when and where he played.

Lance said...

Nick, looking at the photo again, I don't think the drummer was the Jack Wright I knew but then again... it was a long time ago!

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