Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 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

18083 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1047 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 14), 61.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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, July 20, 2013

Sage Summertyne Americana Festival 2013; Fri July 19 to Sun July 21

The Mavericks Hall 1 Friday July 19
Raul Malo (lead vocals, guitar) Eddie Perez (guitar) Jerry Dale McFadden (keys)  Paul Deakin (drums);Other instruments are guitars, trumpet, sax, accordion, bass, and various percussion.  Sorry, didn't catch the names of the musicians.
(Review by Ann Alex)
Not a jazz band, but music influenced by country, 1950’s pop, Tex-Mex, Latin and Cajun.  Three tiers of Hall 1 were full of very enthusiastic fans of all ages who lapped it up, clapped along and stood to move around to the music.  The band was very rousingly led by Malo.  The keyboards player was ultra extravert, dancing as he played and jumping about.  The bass player stood out because of his mode of dress, all in black except for a golden cross, and white jacket and top hat.   
This band had a big hit with Dance The Night Away, which readers must surely have heard on the radio.  Tonight they were playing mainly songs from their latest album In Time.  Numbers included Born To Be Blue; You Don’t Have To Love Me, Just Pretend; Mr Lonely; Dance In The Moonlight. Not sure if all these titles are correct, but you get the idea, mostly love songs.  The first encore was just Malo with guitar, doing a moving version of Here Comes The Sun, then the band returned with generous further encores because of audience demand, so they continued with numbers such as Guantenamera and Twist And Shout, BSH left at this point, so for all I know, they could be playing yet to an appreciative audience!      
The Reception
Earlier, we were treat to a press reception with a difference.  Instead of nibbles of vol au vents, salmon and sausages on sticks, we were offered genuine Americana food – jambalaya and corn bread, as mentioned in the songs.  Jambalaya is rather like a spicy chicken risotto and the corn bread had pieces of sweetcorn, a delicious flavour.  Yummy!
After s short introduction from Ros Rigby, up stepped Raul Malo of The Mavericks with his guitar, playing a spirited rendition of Blue Bayou.  And not one singer but two, as we also had a Johnny Cash song from Jon Langford (Mekons, Waco Brothers).  There is a free exhibition of Langford’s paintings in the Sage this weekend, well worth seeing.  The paintings are of American music giants such as Hank Williams, and are for sale.
Free Outdoor Stage.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch - or rather the Free Outdoor Stage - more cooking with Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra, Big Red and the Grinners and a number of country bands. 
Oh, and of course, Matthew E. White and the McCrary Sisters were over in Hall 2 - like at the International Jazz Festival there is just so so much going on.
Ann Alex.

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