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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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, March 22, 2013

Mike, Humph and Buck - The Fallen Heroes.

As readers will have noted, I've been spending a few days in London and enjoying the music at Ronnie's and Pizza. Sadly, this meant I missed Mike Durham's funeral although my thoughts have been with Patti and the family.
More so at 11am on Thursday - the time of the funeral. As fate would decree, purely by chance, I found myself close to 100 Oxford St. which, of all the London venues, was probably the one closest to Mike's heart. It brought back memories for me too - hearing Humph, getting Buck Clayton's autograph (wonder where that went?) As I thought about Mike, Humph and Buck, I noticed there was a band playing later that day - The Fallen Heroes. How heaven sent was that?
RIP Mike I just wish I could have made it. Hopefully, someone will fill us in on the day.
Lance.
PS: Brian Chester has kindly scanned me the order of service which can be seen here. Brian also remarked on the emotive rendition by Caroline Irwin and Roly Veitch of Parlez-Moi d'Amour.

2 comments :

Alice and Derek Fleck said...

I feel very privileged to have served on Mike Durham’s committee for the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival.
I felt proud to be part of the organizing, working alongside Mike. He was always polite, positive, considerate and kind. Mike put his all into the festivals success. He certainly knew how to front his band with his very funny and witty jokes!!!! At the end of each festival the punters would say ”The best one yet.” Mike would say “This is definitely the last one.” This continued for many years!
Mike said “You lads don’t go astray.
Play Clarence Williams while I'm away
If in a crisis, well my advice is, to
make whoopee.
Miss you Mike. Alice Fleck.

Derek here. Just to say without Mike I would not have met such great musicians and played with them, and travelled the places we have been. He gave me confidence, saying, you can organise the Banjorama can’t you, and the Clarinetitis, and I did, because of Mike. Thank you Mike.

Anonymous said...

I got to know Mike more in recent years arising from my association with Keith & Caroline Stephen and Steve Andrews. It led to some of the most enjoyable music experiences I've ever had. I can only echo what Alice and Derek say above. Its been an absolute priviledge.
Roly

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