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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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Big Bear Stompers @ Customs House South Shields May 10.

Dave Moorwood (ldr/bjo/vcl); Andy Woon, Tony Davis (tpts); Gavin Lee (clt/sop); Bob Wilson (tmb); Perry Lock (pno); John Arthy (tuba); Andy Crisp (vcl); Judy Eames (vcl).
(Review by Lance.)
In the beginning there was King Oliver and his Creole Jazz Band in New Orleans, then, 20 or more years later, his music was revived in San Francisco by Lu Waters' Yerba Buena Jazz Band whose re-creation was itself revived by the Big Bear Stompers in the Midlands (UK). in 1989 - they have been stomping ever since or as one of the numbers went, Charlestoning Back to Charleston!
Tonight was rather special for the audience at the Customs House as, depping on clarinet and soprano was Gavin Lee who hails from but a few miles down the coast. This was his first time with the band and he soloed and read the parts (yes music stands to the fore) as if he'd been a founder member!
The two trumpets worked well together their contrasting styles complementing each other. Andy Woon the more flamboyant, Davis a little more restrained but effective in his own way. Bob Wilson slid nicely into the front line and leader Moorwood was full of jollity and banjo and vocal on the aforementioned Charleston number. This really was Goodtime Jazz,
The engine room chomped and stomped, Lock played idiomatic piano, Arthy the tuba, hidden behind the monster supplied the pulse and Crisp did the business, temple blocks and all.
Judy Eames on vocal gave us Squeeze Me, My Honey's Lovin' Arms, Gulf Coast Blues, Milenberg Joys, Trouble in Mind - a splendid version of Too Busy and You Ain't the One which featured the horns doing 8s, 4s, 2s, that worked well.
Instrumentals included Irish Black Bottom, C'mon and Stomp, Delta Moon,, Buddy's Habits, Midnight Stomp, Working Man Blues and a Moorwood original, Emperor Norton's Hunch.
It was a good session and if you missed it, catch them at Trinity Church and Centre, Gosforth High Street tonight (Saturday May 11)
Lance.

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