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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

18037 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 458 of them this year alone and, so far, 36 this month (June 11).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free. Concert performance (open to the public)..
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00. CANCELLED!

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: David Gray's Flextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’.
Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

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

Sunday, June 17, 2012

The Tea Pad's Sunshine Medicine show - 2012 Cumberland Arms

(Review by Lance).
Do you remember that Bing Crosby song - It's June in January? Well today it was January in June! It was that cold sitting in the grounds of the Cumberland Arms in Byker. Nevertheless, the music made up for it.
The Sour Mash Trio gave a solid country set with more than a hint of Rock 'n' Roll that went down well - as did the Geordie Jazz Ale!
As the stage was prepared for the next act, the Swing 8 DJs gave us some Benny Goodman, Al Bowlly singing You're a Sweetheart and some Sidney Bechet before Lady Koo and the Kooky Kitchen (pictured) took to the stage.
Lady K, dressed as a 1920's sporty type, was suddenly, Ruth Etting, Babs Streisand, Annette Hanshaw and several other flapperettes. but, most of all, she was herself.
French chanson, Finnish folk, American songbook, an original and a number that was pure George Melly - I Didn't Like It The First Time... I've just been listening to a couple of tracks by Lady K - Occidental Woman and Ten Cents a Dance - what a great gal. Not that the others in the band are slouches. Guitar, violin, bass but this woman is absolutely superb!
More DJ Swing then it was time for Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra to keep in the game.
Lady Koo had dressed in '20s tennis gear, Rob Heron was in '30s golfing gear and the band birdied and eagled their way through Cajun and Gypsy, Country and Folk and good old R 'n' R. The Dixie Six horns joined them prior to  their own set.
T.J Muller and the Dixie Horns are from Edinburgh and are amazingly young. So young they look incapable of absorbing the traditional jazz legacy. Yet they have done it brilliantly opening up with the Crosby/Armstrong number from High Society - Now You Has Jazz. They also added a high flying take on some unlikely numbers - The Kinks' Sunny Afternoon being typical. I just loved it.
I was unable to hang around for the Cow Tippers of Kentucky set which I wanted to as Hannah Rickard is always good to hear.
Hannah and Tim Bloomer by the way...
A splendid afternoon/early evening that even the British temperatures couldn't spoil - what do you expect? It's still only June!.
Photos.
Lance.

1 comment :

Lady Koo said...

Lady Koo says BIG thank you for Rob who organised this fab event + all the other acts who were great! and last but not least, had a great time performing thanks to NortEast audience that is simply the best! Bebop Spoken ,thank you! www.facebook.com/pages/Lady-Koo-and-The-Kooky -Kitchen

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