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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

Sat 14: Mr Wilson’s Second Liners @ Northumberland Miners’ Picnic, Woodhorn Museum, Ashington. 10:00am-5:00pm. Free. At intervals during the day.
Sat 14: Spanish City Rollers @ The Brae, Cullercoats. 11:00am & 1:00pm. Free. A Cullercoats Festival event.
Sat 14: Front Porch Three + Hoodoo Blues swing dance workshop @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 3:30pm. A Cullercoats Festival event.
Sat 14: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tynedale Beer & Cider Festival, Tynedale Rugby Club, Corbridge. 4:15-5:30pm.
Sat 14: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 14: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 14: Eva Fox & Steve Chambers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 15: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:00pm.
Sun 15: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Hannah Brine Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

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.

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: 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.

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 16, 2012

Swing City Quartet @ The Customs House, South Shields

Steve Andrews (ten/clt/whistle); Paul Edis (pno/fl); Roly Veitch (gtr/vcl); Roy Cansdale (bs).
(Review by Lance.)
In the big picture, I suppose I could be excused for referring to this as a low-profile gig although the 60.or so paying customers, myself included might disagree.
I'm not going to go out on a limb and vote it as my gig of the year but, tell you what, it's up there in a photo finish!
I can't begin to tell you - those of you who chickened out of visiting South Shields on a rainy Friday evening -  just what a delightful session this was.
I knew they were playing for keeps when they tuned up before going into Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea.
Steve has acquired a new Conn tenor - 1928 I think he said which is new for him. It had a nice sound but, by the end of the tune he was back on the old faithful pre Adolphe Sax model. He sounded good on both instruments - Steve would sound good on a penny whistle. what am I saying? later on he did just that!
I Wished on the Moon - is there a better tune? and Roly sang it beautifully in that light jazz tenor voice that is so compelling. Compelling because Roly's vocals always convey the impression that he is going to miss the note and you hold your breath.
He never does.
Apart from the vocal and Steve's switch to clarinet the number brought Paul Edis into the forefront. Paul's fill ins behind the vocal were absolutely spot on and his solo reminded me, not of Bill Evans, but John Lewis with MJQ. Just some little chromatic phrases that stuck. And I speak with authority as I've just received 5 MJQ CDs to review! Which reminds me - anyone want to review Mile's last 5 discs?
Back to tonight.
Steve cut loose on clarinet on Struttin' With Some Barbecue moving over to tenor after Paul's solo. When the Mafia hear that Paul Edis has been playing Struttin' With Some Barbecue he'll probably be excommunicated. Moonlight in Vermont was as beautiful as that tune always is before Paul had a solo feature on Tatum's version of Tea for Two - awesome! The set finished off with Nuages and Tangerine.
Let me also mention Steve's patter - tonight it was really good and, if he ever hangs up his saxophones, a career in stand-up awaits - if vaudeville was still around he wouldn't be bottom of the bill.
The tin whistle emerged for a spirited version of All God's Chillun Got Rhythm (if only!).
The show rolled on and I didn't see anyone leave - how could they?
Roly sang The Touch of Your Lips (Paul on flute) and Fine and Dandy was just that!
Paul played Bix's In A Mist. He played it beautifully but, for me, it needed to be quieter, more subtle. This may have been the sound engineer cranking up the volume but I felt it lost the tenderness of the original or, say, Marian McPartland's interpretation. After all it is In a Mist, not Hurricane Sandy
Still, a minor quibble - Paul was brilliant throughout not least in Lester Leaps In when he threw in 8 bars of stride on the release - magic.
Steve superb Hawkins/Webster tenor, Goodmaneseque clarinet.
Roly a tower of strength on rhythm guitar and occasional inspired solos and vocals.
I haven't mentioned him until now but Roy Cansdale was on the money. Soloing only sporadicallyally he, nevertheless, ensured the rhythmic pulse was there and, who cares if there wasn't a drummer - nasty smelly things!
Take a bow guys.
My God I've never wrote a review of this length - it must have been good!
Photos.
Lance.




1 comment :

Jean Hogg said...

I enjoyed your review on Roly Veitch & Co (A damn good read)
I have always found his wistful voice so well matched to the intimate songs he chooses and his guitar style is bliss to my ears. Just bought the CD"Wrap your troubles in dreams"

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