Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 2026)

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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

From This Moment On

May

Mon 25: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 26: Noel Dennis Sextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00. A Miles Davis centenary concert (Davis b. 26. 5. 1926). Noel Dennis (trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums). SOLD OUT!
Tue 26: Lagos to Longbenton @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Miles Davis & His Favourite Musicians.
Thu 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 28: Bobby Rush @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. + bf. Veteran USA bluesman.
Thu 28: Squabble @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 28: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.

Sat 30: Giles Strong Quartet @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £1.50 bf.

Sun 31: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 31: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 31: Sinfonia of London: Tea Dance @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. Free. John Wilson ensemble performing on the concourse. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin & more.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 31: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 31: Ben Haskins Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Take It To The Bridge Jazz Workshop, The Chillingham Wednesday December 5 The Blue Jazz Quintet Becomes a Trio with Singers

Chris Finch (keys); Dave Parker (double bass); Michael Howard (drums); Ann; Jenny; Heather (vocals)
Workshop musicians: Dave Weisser (flugelhorn, vocals); Jim Crinson (fretless bass guitar); Barry Ashcroft (keys); Mike Papapavlou (electric guitar) Doe? (violin) someone else (drums).
(Review by Ann Alex.)
Sorry to anyone I've missed out or misnamed, but I'm afraid my other wits fly away when I have singing responsibilities.  Dave Weisser is running really useful and entertaining workshop sessions every Wednesday, so if you want to hone your jazz skills, this is the place to go to get good solid experience of playing with other musicians in an informal setting. 
Freddy Freeloader made for a stomping, swinging start with solos all round to get everyone on their mettle.  Then came Just Friends with a flowing keyboard solo from Barry and useful work from the bass guitar, with Dave scatting and singing in between shouts from the flugelhorn.  The band then let rip on  Killer Joe, with a slinky flugelhorn and the bass guitar cutting across and everyone swopping 4s, or maybe it was 6s or 8s!
Another quick number and the raffle, then we singers from Lindsay Hannon’s Sage class were on with the trio and other musicians popping in and out of the equation.  It was good of the Blue Jazz Trio to give us so much space in their set, and Dave and the audience were very encouraging.  
First up, myself, with a cynical Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You; a sad interpretation of For All We Know; and a lively I Got Rhythm.  People seemed to enjoy it, but how can I review my own singing?
Next came Jenny with a truly gutsy Bye Bye Blackbird; a heartfelt Body And Soul; and a stomping Night And Day; including the verse and a thumping drum and bass solo from the band, who did us proud throughout.  Heather changed the mood to Latin, with her Dindi; before taking us to Green Dolphin Street; followed by an emotional What are you Doing the Rest of Your Life.  The evening was rounded off well with most musicians on stage for Caravan, with a new drummer and a violin to help us on our way into the snow.
Long may such nights continue.
Ann Alex.

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