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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

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. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! 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.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

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, October 21, 2012

Philip Clouts Quartet @ New Hartley Memorial Hall. October 20

Philip Clouts (keyboards), Carlos Lopez-Real (alto & soprano saxophones), ? (double bass) & Jon Desbruslais (drums).
(Review by Russell)
New Hartley Memorial Hall does well with folk gigs. Kathryn Tickell packed out the place and Jez Lowe, a favourite, returns in the new year. Jazz, contemporary or otherwise is another matter. The jazz fan, the curious and the Memorial Hall patron assembled in sufficient numbers to constitute an audience keen to hear to some jazz, contemporary jazz at that. 
The Philip Clouts Quartet travelled north to play a series of gigs in rural locations. This New Hartley appearance, the penultimate date of the tour, found the band in fine form, in the groove with the material. Philip Clouts had a new CD to plug but you wouldn't know it. The softly spoken South African born pianist didn't do self promotion - the title of the next tune and little more. 
The first tune - Deco - came from the new CD Sennen Cove and the second tune - As Evening Ends  (Clouts acknowledged its somewhat inappropriate placing in the set list) - served to introduce the band; featured soloist Carlos Lopez-Real on alto, Clouts, and drummer Jon Desbruslais (impressive brush and mallet combination). Clouts suggested Bird’s Word (from Sennen Cove) owed as much to seagulls as Charlie Parker and Lopez-Real’s authoritative alto flew way beyond bop. The closing number of the first set - Egypt - roamed across the land of the pharaohs before accelerating across the continent fuelled by a Desbruslais’ fusillade; relentless hi-hat, powerful press rolls, rim shots, the lot. 
The interval brought a beer and nibbles, a raffle and a chat across the table with Esther about this and that (jazz and jazz). 
Clef Mona opened the second set with Lopez-Real on soprano sounding not unlike Garbarek or Garland. Clouts introduced a new tune, so new it was without a title. It had a distinct gospel feel as the quartet soloed in turn. If Clouts had said it had been written by Dr Billy Taylor few would have doubted him. If a working title is required how about Hymn for Hartley (2012 commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Hartley Colliery Disaster)? The band let rip on Riptide, first alto, then piano as the rhythm section conspired to affect a drum ‘n’ bass intervention. Clouts returned to the new CD, released on Point Records, to end an enjoyable set with Commotion in C. Township jazz in Northumberland! Such is the global reach of great music. The audience wanted an encore and the band obliged with Nyasa Lullaby, a tune written by the band leader on hearing an unusual scale used by Tanzanian musicians. 
An evening of good jazz, in good company, in a welcoming rural venue - what a good idea! The last night of the tour (facilitated by Highlights Rural Touring Scheme) is in Wooler at the Cheviot Centre (Padgepool Place) on Sunday 21 October (7:30 pm). - That's tonight!
Russell                                                       

1 comment :

Philip Clouts said...

Hi
many thanks for this.
fyi the mystery bass player was Dave Manington of the Loop Collective, standing in for Alex Keen
http://www.philipcloutsquartet.co.uk/

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