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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 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. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. 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

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Martin Litton and Nick Gill: Customs House: Friday March 15, 2013


Nick Gill/Martin Litton (pianos)
(Review by Ann Alex.)
It was as if we were at a Harlem rent party or a New Orleans bordello, the tunes and anecdotes tumbled out from these two gentlemen, dressed for the occasion in smart trousers and grey waistcoat (Martin), and (Nick) in black and red striped blazer, equally stylish trousers and, for the second set, red and white shoes with that (1920’s?) curved pattern, wish I knew what those sort of shoes are called.  Two upright pianos, diagonally back to back, presumably so that the players could communicate, although both players went solo as well.  Marvellous, lively, up and at ‘em rags and stride. I was a bit frustrated – I wanted to dance! 
Jelly Roll Morton's  Big Fat Ham, a tune where the ladies of the brothel had to try to kick a ham suspended from the ceiling when dancing; Ellington’s Swampy River, a composition with a tango section in the middle and all sorts else going on; Manhattan Rag, (Hoagy Carmichael) with it’s music box effect; Fats Waller’s Handful Of Keys, played fast, which, Martin said, was meant to be a challenge to the skills of the pianist who was to follow after.
Nick chose the Roger’s piano and Martin remained at the Knight before the pianistic pugilists slugged it out on the well-known Maple Leaf Rag. A split decision but no one could decide which way!
The mood and style changed quite suddenly as they moved into some gasbook material – Gershwin’s  The Man I Love. Nick trilling away like a Budgie Blues Bird whilst Martin played Mother Hen.
Nick continued alone with a slow version of Joplin’s Gladiolus Rag.  He pointed out that we were uncertain about what speed these rags were originally played at.  There followed Porter’s Begin The Beguine, Nick’s own composition, a ‘novelty’ rag, Splinters; and then, a surprise treat, Nick singing Gershwin’s They All Laughed.  Other delights were the duo’s Honky Tonk Train Blues with its train sounds of whistle and hooter; Nick singing a sensitive Buddy Can You Spare A Dime; his self-penned song about busking - Sing a Song For Sixpence; Joplin’s Rag Time Dance, with our players stamping out the beat;  the  Rachmaninov influenced The War’s Over; Gershwin’s Swanee.  The performance was rounded off with 12th Street Rag and St Louis Blues.  I could have listened to this happy music for the rest of the evening.
The gig had been organised by the late Mike Durham, and Martin paid tribute to Mike.  I like to think that Mike was perhaps listening to all this from another part of the universe.
Ann Alex     

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