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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 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. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. 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.

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, July 26, 2013

Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Millstone. July 25

Trumpets: Michael Lamb, Pete Tanton, Kevin Eland, Tom Hill, trombones: Mark Ferris, Alex Leathard, John Flood, Robert Perry, reeds: Laurie Rangecroft, Nadiah Killick, Steve Summers, Paul Gowland, Jamie Toms, guitar: Pawel Jedrzejewski, keyboards: Colm Rooney, bass: Michael Went, drums: Guy Swinton, vocals: Lindsay Hannon.
(Review by Russell)
The Strictly Smokin’ Big Band’s regular last Thursday in the month date at the Millstone in South Gosforth is, ostensibly, the band’s rehearsal night but to all intents and purposes it is a fully fledged concert performance. This month’s affair was hot, too darn hot. Beers and bottled water quenched a thirst as the heat wave continued. Windows closed, perhaps to placate nearby residents, the Millstone’s upstairs function room resembled a sauna for the duration.
Complete tunes (Gordon Goodwin’s I’ve Found a New Baby), part tunes (Satin Doll from five bars in), banter in the ranks (good to see Colm Rooney in as a dep) until MD Michael Lamb counted them in, then dedicated, working musicians giving it their best. A smattering of applause from the keen listeners, fanning themselves then ordering another round of drinks.
Tenor star Paul Gowland had a blow on Lester Leaps In, fellow tenorist Jamie Toms on a truncated Caravan. Vocalist Lindsay Hannon reiterated it was Too Darn Hot, got to grips with Orange Coloured Sky and later tackled Alright, Okay, You Win. The latter, by common agreement, needed more rehearsal time – they’re a self-deprecating lot the SSBB!
Chick Corea and Stan Kenton in the same pad? They’re in the Strictly Smokin’s! Spain, from eleven bars in, featured excellent tenor from Toms. The evening’s highlight – Fat Cat – roared like a big beast with a round of cracking solos (Pete Tanton, Steve Summers on alto, Pav guitar, Gowland, Alex Leathard trombone, Toms and excellent alto from Nadiah Killick). Paul Gowland’s current party piece – Body and Soul – illustrated the comprehensive talent of the tenor man and the night drew to a close with drummer Guy Swinton deservedly taking the spotlight on Skin Deep.
The Strictly Smokin’ Big Band can be heard at the Tyne Bar, Maling Street, Newcastle at five o’clock on Saturday 17 August. It is a free outdoor event – come rain or come shine – with a BBQ and fine beers. Leave the car at home, take the Quay Link bus along to the Ouseburn and enjoy a beer or two listening to a first rate big band.       
Russell.           

2 comments :

Unknown said...

Thanks Russell. The only slight amendment is that Nadiah should actually be Leath Teather who was dep'ping for us last night!

Russell said...

I thought I didn't recognise her! Thanks Michael.

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