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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

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. CANCELLED!

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: David Gray's Flextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
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.

Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

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.

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

Monday, January 14, 2013

Farewell My Lovely/ The Long Goodbye Part 2.

Crombie was finally sent on his way to sleep The Big Sleep. But what a send off! In his oratory, "Bertie" compared the occasion to a State Funeral and he was right! Diana's procession may have been longer but, it didn't seem that much longer!
The parade left the Jazz Café behind two magnificent black horses pulling the hearse. The band struck up with St. James Infirmary and the cortège headed for St. Thomas' Church by a somewhat devious route.  We brought the traffic to a standstill but I didn't hear one horn tooted in anger. I don't know how many were in the parade but it seemed to stretch almost to the horizon!
Someone suggested that this was an illegal gathering! I'm sure it wasn't but Keith would have loved it if the police had charged in and broke it up!
As we neared the church the band segued into The Saints and march in we did - taking care to avoid some of the horses' by-products.
The church was crowded - even the gallery was full and we lustily sang When The roll is Called up Yonder.
Jess read Tennyson's Crossing The Bar before we once more gave voice to The Day Thou Gavest Lord is Ended. They got than one wrong - it had hardly begun!
Next came an "interlude" from Robert who spoke at length - indeed some might say at great length - about Keith with lots of anecdotes finishing off with a letter from Greg Hicks of the RSC who were frequent visitors to the JC (how appropriate are those initials?)
More hymns, then it was outside where the snow was now falling quite heavily. Was this his parting shot? No, a London Dreadnought bus (Number 14 to Putney) had been laid on to ferry us back down to Pink Lane and the Town Wall pub opposite "The Caff".
The walls were bulging as thirsty mourners clamoured for succour. At the far end Peter Gilligan and his team got the ball rolling. Just like last Sunday across the road the guys and gals got up and jammed and sang and had fun. Circumstances decreed I couldn't stay till the end - the laws of gravity were working against me staying upright but believe you me - just like the Long Goodbye Part 1 this was undoubtedly Gig of the Month maybe even the year!
RIP Keith - your like will never pass this way again.
Sky/Tyne and Wear video clip.
Kaveh Emami Photos.
Lance.

2 comments :

Val Clemens (on F/B) said...

Beautiful write up Lance, what a day for Keith's passing.

Lance said...

Thank you Val, I was quite proud of this myself - I'm sure Keith would have liked it! However, a prophet is without honour etc... Apart from you of course!

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