Total Pageviews

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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ 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

Friday, June 15, 2012

The Customs House Big Band w. Ruth Lambert @ Saville Exchange, North Shields. June 14.

Peter Morgan MD & bass trombone. Jill Brett, George Robinson, Alan Marshall, Amber Reeve Chris Kaberry, Saxes. Paul Riley Gledhill, , Kevin Eland, Jay Smith, Annette Butters, trumpets. Chris Kurji Smith, Gareth Weaver, Michael Fletcher, trombones. Bill Brittain, keyboard, Alan Smith, bass guitar, Roy Willis, guitar, Dave Francis, drums. Ruth Lambert, vocal.
(Review by Miles).
The CHBB pulled out all the stops again last night to a small but appreciative audience, one with quite a few musicians amongst it. Fifteen instrumentals and nine songs were played and enjoyed, one with audience participation, Basie's April In Paris. New ones to me were Clam Chowder, Switch In Time, Belavino Blues and a beautiful Quintessence by lead altoist Jill Brett.
Highspots for me were Kevin Eland's flugel horn feature Blue, an up tempo Take the A Train, Coconut Champagne, Hunting Wabbitts, Gordon Goodwin's take on Bugs Bunny which brought back memories of my younger days and Billy May's music for Puddy Tat et al. and C Jam Blues.
Ruth Lambert never disappoints, my favourites were My Heart Belongs to Daddy, Time After Time and At Last. Soloists throughout the show were Jill Brett, George Robinson, Alan Marshall, Amber Reeve, Chris Kurji Smith, Kevin Eland, Jay Smith, and the often overlooked but rock solid and swinging rhythm section.
The encore was a swinging Mack The Knife and it was nice that Ruth reinstated Polly Peachum in the lyrics instead of Satchmo's Lotte Lenya.
It is perhaps a little unfair to single anyone out but mention must be made of Alan Marshall's tenor solos swinging in the fast numbers and dreamy and melodic behind the vocals, but the hero of the night was Kevin Eland who has suffered a very sore bottom lip since last Sunday yet played in his Maynard mode things most trumpet players couldn't do with perfect chops.
A great night, looking forward to the next one.
Miles

No comments :

Blog Archive