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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00-2:00pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Fiona Finden’s Jazz Express @ Flash House Brewing Co., North Shields. 8:00pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Saturday, August 04, 2012

Blues on the River - West Jesmond Rhythm Kings Riverboat Shuffle

Brian Chester (tmb); Roly Veitch (bjo); Phil Rutherford (sousa); Mike Durham (tpt/vcl); Derek Fleck (clt).
(Review by Lance)
Bourbon Street Parade got us cruising down the river and what a lovely cruise it was - despite the lack of real ale! 
We were passing St. Peter's Basin Marina - that yuppie haven. The yachts may not have been exactly Monte Carlo but they had the edge on Hebburn Marina, a few miles down river and when the band blew When My Dreamboat Comes Home, it, somehow, seemed appropriate.
One of our contributors was drinking Swedish Cider - perhaps an act of homage to the Anglo-Swedish Boiler Repair Company whose logo dominated a stretch of the river. Mike Durham was singing Everybody Loves My Baby as we approached that part of the River Tyne that was once wall to wall shipyards - where did they all go to? In the Olympics, China was leading the medal table.
Tishomingo Blues took us downstream where verdant pastures contrasted with bland, faceless industrial units. What went on behind these walls? Were we creating weapons of mass destruction? a Germ Warfare program or maybe just a council funded Cannabis Farm.
We kicked off with Bourbon Street Parade and, lo and behold, a moored container ship - The Bourbon Front!
Mike sang Too Busy - my favourite version of this is by Kay Starr and I hope Mike will forgive me for saying, it still is! 
The scenery continued to unfold - our rugged industrial heritage, Willington Quay Boat Club, more green pastures and Call Centres.
The sad sight of North Shields Fish Quay...
The band took a break, the boat turned around. 
After experimenting with John Smith's, Budweisser and Stella, I returned to JS and WJRK played Jazz Me Blues.
The return journey took in the other side of the river - When You and I Were Young Maggie - brought memories of when I was young(er) and the landmarks that are now long gone.
Tiger Rag - this is what I love about jazz - almost a hundred years on - bands are still playing Tiger Rag. I wonder if any of today's original compositions will be played a Hundred Years From Today. I doubt it but, I'll betcha, and this is a bet neither of us can lose or win because we won't be here to collect, but, a hundred years from today, somebody will be playing A Hundred Years From Today  so, don't save your kisses just spread them around...
A fireworks display greeted our return to Newcastle and for some time we were encapsulated by that strange magnetism that fireworks can have for us. 
The Bridges Festival and The Sage had done us proud
Lance.

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