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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.

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

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!

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

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Death of an Icon - RIP Marian McPartland OBE.

We knew it had to come but even so we weren't prepared for it. I refer to the death, announced yesterday (August 20),.of British expat pianist Marian McPartland, perhaps our greatest jazz export.
Marian was more than just a pianist, albeit a very good one who was never static but always willing to absorb new ideas providing they were harmonically sound. She was also a legend in your own living room via her radio series Piano Jazz. Over a period of 30 years she interviewed just about every jazz pianist of note as well as other instrumentalists and singers. Inevitably she would play a duet with her guest which led to the title of Paul De Barros' superb biography Shall We Play That One Together. An earlier book, by McPartland herself, was also appropriately titled - All In Good Time for, whether playing or interviewing her timing was perfect.
The trio she led at New York's Hickory House with Joe Morello and Bill Crow was arguably the best combo to play that venue. Ironically only yesterday a Piano Jazz interview with Cedar Walton was posted on Facebook as a tribute to the pianist who'd died the day previous.
I am genuinely saddened at the loss of this remarkable woman even though I only heard her live on one occasion - the North Sea Jazz Festival in 1985 - her playing and her personality have left a lasting impression on myself and many many others throughout the world.
Marian McPartland OBE died on August 20 aged 95.
Sadly missed.
Lance.
PS: Wynton Marsalis sums her up beautifully on F/b.
Marian McPartland was a tireless champion for our music -- living proof and the embodiment of Jazz as an international language. A lover of people and an astounding variety of musicians, she was capable of playing in almost every style of Jazz with wit, sophistication and insight. When I was a sophomore in high school, she gave a master class at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and later invited us to play a gig with her and was gracious and encouraging. Students all over the world have the same story, I'm sure. She will be missed, but the blessing she put on all of us will resonate.
Wynton

4 comments :

Jude (on F/b) said...

Oh how sad.

Ric Nickels said...

Sorry to here about the death of another Jazz legend.Also with the passing of George Duke and Cedar Walton I just relized that all three were pianist. So I can see the three of them Jammin!! in heaven

Lance said...

Just played some solo tracks Marian recorded live at Lincoln Center - What's Your Story Morning Glory? I'm a grown man - I shouldn't be crying. But I'm not ashamed. I've lost a wonderful pianist and my favourite facebook friend!

Anne DeVere Harper (on F/b) said...

Great lady, beautiful player!

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