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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

17,533 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 497 of them this year alone and, so far, 75 this month (June 23).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

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.

Thu 26: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Brass Instruments & the use of mutes.

Fri 27: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Time After Time’.

Sat 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Linskill Centre, North Shields. 4:00-10:30pm. Free, but ticketed (over 18s only). A multi-bill, multi-genre ‘Canny Shiels - North Shields 800’ event. Three Kings Brewery on site.
Sat 28: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 29: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 29: Bal Bruch Social Dance @ As You Like It, Sandyford, Newcastle. 12:30pm. Free. Dance event with Hot Club de Heaton performing live (2:00-3:00pm). A ‘Jar on the Bar’ event.
Sun 29: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 3:00pm. Ray McVay & co.
Sun 29: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: Zoë Gilby w. Ryton Choral Society @ Corbridge Middle School NE45 5HX. 5:30pm. £15.00. Gilby w jazz trio & choir. ‘An evening of jazz song for choir’.
Sun 29: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 29: John Wilson & the Sinfonia of London @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Greatest Hits’.
Sun 29: Out Front @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

JULY 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 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

Friday, November 02, 2012

Jam Session @ Hoochie Thursday Nov. 1

Mark Williams (gtr); James Harrison (keys); Paul Grainger (bs); Jeff Armstrong (dms) + Paul Gowland, Sarah Travena (ten), Mike Papapavlou, Kazumi Ishigaki, Ian Simpson (gtr), Nicki Ortega (dms), Lindsay Hannon (vcl).
(Review by Lance.)
One of the best jams here, ever! Although Pete Gilligan is in Odessa, gigging with a Syrian guitarist - the international implications are of some concern - new kid on the block, Harrison, proved to be a more than capable sub producing some dazzling solos. This effervescent young man is a definite welcome addition to the scene although his penchant for quotes does become overused - The Sailors Hornpipe, the Bridal March and Scotland The Brave etc were funny the first time around but did become a little cringe-making as the night progressed. Nevertheless, having said that, in between quotes he played a lot of piano, swinging like a souped-up pendulum, as well as digging deep into the Groove Bag on the Hammond SK perched above the piano. Brian Auger Trinity sprung to mind.
Paul Grainger kept it all together on bass and Jeff Armstrong, and later, Nicky Ortega punched it along.
Needless to say, Mark Williams repelled all boarders and there were a few tonight including Harrison's buddy Ian Simpson, Papapavlou and Kazumi Ishigaki - all played brilliantly. Paul Gowland and Sarah Travena blew tenor in their contrasting styles - Paul played more notes but Sarah had longer legs - the legs got it!
Lindsay sang At Long Last Love - moving the lyric around a bit. There were other singers waiting in the wings but, a late start meant a late finish, and, as the number 27 was already crossing the Tyne Bridge, I had to hastily exit pursued by a bear.
Photos.
Lance

4 comments :

Paul Grainger said...

Hi Lance
Good to see you last night. Just read your review of the jam. Glad you enjoyed it. I had a great time. The unknown drummer was Nicky Ortega, and the mystery guitarist is Japanese. His name is Kazumi Ishigaki.
Cheers
Paul Grainger

Lance said...

Thanks Paul, corrections made.

Unknown said...

Fabulous notes!

Anonymous said...

That wasn't a bear pursuing you across the Tyne Bridge, it was an irate female tenor player!

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