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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.

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: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
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.

APRIL 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 @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

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. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

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, January 20, 2013

Digby Fairweather with the Swing City Trio @ Trinity Church, Gosforth. January 19

Digby Fairweather (cornet & vocals), Steve Andrews (tenor saxophone, clarinet & vocals), Roly Veitch (guitar & vocals) & Roy Cansdale (double bass) + Iain MacAulay (trombone)
(Review by Russell)
Gosforth High Street resembled a scene on a Christmas card - giant snow flakes, lots of them, threatening a white-out, settling under foot. The Newcastle suburb looked a picture - if you like that sort of thing. Trinity Church and Centre isn’t an obvious choice as a jazz venue yet good numbers invariably turn up for their monthly fix of the music. This bleak mid winter night deterred all but the hardy (fool hardy?). Once inside, the bottle bar was a first port of call. Hadrian Border’s Farne Island looked the pick. The audience looked rather thin (numerically). As the first set got underway the audience had beefed-up (numerically). The attraction? Digby Fairweather, no less.
An added attraction was the company he was keeping - the Swing City Trio, no less. Four amiable characters playing some tunes, having a good time. This Can’t Be Love, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby and I’m Confessin’ That I Love You (the latter dedicated to Ruby Braff featured stupendous playing by Fairweather). Braff anecdotes included the occasion when, on Tyneside, the American worked with Fairweather. After the gig, walking back to their hotel, Braff asked Essex lad Fairweather if he knew ‘The Lambeth Walk’ Did he? Of course he did! Picture the scene…the pair of them, arms linked, singing Cockney songs late into the night on the streets of Newcastle!
Swing That Music upped the tempo with Steve Andrews’ knock-out clarinet work. Guitarist Roly Veitch sang ‘Tis Autumn with wonderful contributions from Andrews (clarinet) and Fairweather. Veitch and rhythm partner bassist Roy Cansdale stoked it up big style on Spotlight as Andrews drew inspiration from Coleman Hawkins. 
The second set was just like the first - full of gems. Veitch sang What a Little Moonlight Can Do and Stars Fell on Alabama (ace trombonist Iain MacAulay joined the party), Andrews sang She’s Funny That Way and a blues heard MacAulay at his Teagarden-like best. Fairweather said he would happily play all night in the company of such fine musicians but it was almost closing time and a storming Lester Leaps In sent us on our way. Snow storms? What snow storms?
Russell                 

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