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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.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Jazz Summit 2012

The good thing about this meeting was the number of people who showed up. The bad thing was those who didn't show. Apart from Mike Durham, Keith Crombie, Brian Bennett and the guys from Saltburn, I didn't see any of the more mainstream orientated promoters. Their input would have been valuable.
As it was, it was a constructive evening which, inevitably for an opener, ended up as a work in progress.
Paul Bream spoke well describing the achievements of the now no more Jazz Action, of Jazz North East, Schmazz and the future prospects for Jazz in the region.
Nigel Slee of the newly formed  Jazz North waxed eloquent on the future and how the North East, The North West, and Yorkshire would become one. Not everyone was convinced of this and the criteria that would be applied to select - say ten bands - to be funded and promoted and how they would be pigeon-holed style-wise. .In the chair, Chris Hodgkins, assured those present that all bands would be adjudged on merit irrespective of genre. (We shall see!)
Steve Crocker, of Seven Jazz, Leeds, reported on their success story and so the story ended - on a cliffhanger!
Afterwards the various factions intermingled, making full use of the bar, totally oblivious to what Zoe Gilby and Andy Champion were laying down. Let's be honest, the Basie Band wouldn't have been heard above the conversation!
However, once the chit-chat had settled at an acceptable level, Zoe came across beautifully - Our Love is Here To Stay brought the audience down to pin-drop acoustics and it was much appreciated by those with ears.
As I said earlier - a work in progress. Not so Zoe, she's a work progressing so fast Diana Krall is looking over shoulders! In fact Diana said to me the other day in The Jazz Café - "I'm sure glad Zoe doesn't play piano!"
Mind you this was a different Diana.
Lance.

2 comments :

Hil said...

I was surprised there were not more local young musicians interested enough to attend. Did they all have gigs on a Monday evening? Surely they wish to keep jazz alive in this area?
Then again you only have to look at Splinter on a Sunday evening. Some musicians and vocalists only ever show up for their own gigs.

Lance said...

You're touching on one of my sore points. There are so many fine young musicians coming out of the music schools and colleges yet, as you say, they never show up for other peoples gigs (an exception last night was Michael Lamb of the Strictly Smokin' Big Band.)
One wonders if they think that because they've been to college they know it all and can't learn anything from listening to jazzers who actually earn a crust from playing in clubs and bars?
Which brings me to another related area. How do we attract, not just the younger element, but the younger element from a working class, state school, background?

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