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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

Tuesday, July 09, 2013

SNJO @ Gala Theatre, Durham - In the Spirit of Duke July 8

Tommy Smith (ten/md); Ru Pattison (alt/sop/clt); Martin Kershaw (alt/clt); Konrad Wiszniewski (alt/ten/clt); Bill Fleming (alt/bar/bs. clt/clt); Ryan Quigley, Cameron Jay, Tom McNiven, Lorrie Cowieson (tpt); Kevin Garrity, Phil O'Malley (tmb); Michael Owers (bs. tmb); Brian Kellock (pno); Calum Gourlay (bs); Alyn Cosker (dms).
(Review by Lance)
I knew what to expect - or at least I thought I did. The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra's CD In the Spirit of Duke has never  been far away from the machine and yet, hearing it live added a new dimension and the richness of the saxes combined with the power of the brass and a tightly knit rhythm section made for a band that ticked all the boxes.
Having said that, I found even the abbreviated version of Rhapsody in Blue still a tad (well several tads) too long. Likewise Tommy Smith's showstopping closer the tenor sax marathon  Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue paying homage to the legendary Newport '56 solo by Paul Gonsalves could also have benefitted from a little more brevity. But these are minor quibbles in an evening that fairly sizzled both musically and weatherwise.
The first set; Black and Tan Fantasy/Creole Love Call - Jack the Bear (featuring Calum Gourlay on bass) - Le Sucrier Velours (gorgeous sax blend) - Daybreak Express (Quigley takes off) - Concerto For Cootie (Tom McNiven as Cootie Williams) - Rhapsody in Blue. Everybody had their say on Rhapsody including Brian Kellock who performed brilliantly all evening.
The queue at the bar was about as long as that queuing at Wimbledon the previous day so Russell and I nipped across the road to "The Duck" which was empty. After a pint of "Cockerhoop" - appropriately named on such an enjoyable evening we got back in time for Kellock to play Kinda Dukish which led into Rockin' in Rhythm with, once more, Quigley flying high.
Ru Pattison came down front for an authentic Johnny Hodges type rendition of Prelude to a Kiss. Last time I heard Ru was on the band's Kenton concert where he played cool modern sounding alto yet here he was in sumptuous Hodges mode!
Sepia Panorama featured Konrad W. Ko Ko, Solitude and Morning Mood and Anitra's Dance both from the Peer Gynt Suite followed, the latter had a tenor blast from the leader as well as displaying his qualities as a raconteur. Mood Indigo, Harlem Airshaft and the rather beautiful Single Petal of a Rose (duet with Kellock and Smith) preceded The Overture from the Nutcracker Suite and finally the inevitable Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue which wrapped up what had been a memorable concert.
Lance.

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