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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Work NOT Play

I note that musicians are being booked to perform at 'The Café' in Alnwick Gardens
Apparently, the A G Facebook page invites 'talented musicians' to play in their café for a few hours for 'no fee' but that they will be 'allowed to keep any tips or donations'. 
As an experienced band leader on the local jazz scene for more years than I care to remember, having worked 'on the road' in Holland, France, Germany and throughout the UK, played in bands with Sting, Jools Holland and Fred Rowe, my advice to musicians is 'don't do it!'. It's the thin end of the wedge and it's setting an extremely bad precedent for other musicians, especially those with babies to feed and mortgages to pay. 
We all work on the premise that one gig will lead to another (better paid) gig - but don't perform for nowt! The MU is very aware that their members are being asked by organisations and charities such as National Trust to play for 'nobbins' and the opportunity to sell CD's, etc. to the exclusion of a reasonable fee - check out the MU's campaign for 'Work NOT Play'
It's a jungle out there for the majority of working musicians! Let's not make it worse than it already is. 
Brian Bennett.


6 comments :

Lance said...

Agreed, no one should be asked to work for nothing. Having said that, I've looked on the AG F/b page and can't find the item in question. However, we do know it goes on whether at AG or elsewhere and as long as musicians are prepared to do it then organisers will take advantage.

Brian said...

Phew! That's a relief! The baby will be fed and the Building Society Manager will sleep at night - all's well on the Tyneside jazz scene!

AndyHud said...

FROM The Alnwick Gardens/Northumberlamnd estates of mouth
Alnwick Gardens Admission Charges
Adult
£13.75
Concession (students and aged 60+)
£11.90
Child (5-16 years)
£4.40

Isobel Jane Miller Percy is the Duchess of Northumberland and also a businesswoman who is best known for redeveloping Alnwick Garden. She is married to the 12th Duke of Northumberland, Ralph Percy.
The Percy family have owned Alnwick Castle and surrounding lands since 1309. In order to ensure the continued upkeep of this heritage, the business has undergone significant change in recent years.
Ralph Percy was ranked at number 248 in the Sunday Times Rich List 2011, with an estimated wealth of £315 million. He is the titular owner of Alnwick Castle, an ancestral ducal seat, as well as Warkworth Castle and Prudhoe Castle in Northumberland; Syon Park in London; Hulne Park and Hulne Priory at Alnwick; the Albury Estate in Surrey, and other listed buildings such as Brizlee Tower.[4] Northumberland Estates manages 100,000 acres (40,000 ha) of land, directly managing 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) of forestry interests and 20,000 acres (8,100 ha) of farmland, with 100 tenant farmers managing the remainder of the land.....

Draw your own conclusions

Anonymous said...

A well known Tyneside music and educational centre is another culprit. I've performed their quite often in recent years, both on the concourse and in the brasserie. Until now, this has been at a reasonable rate. However, when last month I was asked to perform on the concourse next January, a generic email advised me that "this wouldn’t be a paid performance, but the Concourse programme offers local artists, ensembles and community groups the chance to perform at (well known venue) and to profile themselves. You will also be provided with technical support (where required) as well as a listing on our website."
Upon enquiring about this change in policy, I was informed that this was a "result of having a reduced budget to manage and produce the Concourse programme; a consequence of the continue economic squeeze both internally and externally."
I find it strange and disappointing that a venue that purports to support the cultivation of local music and musicians cannot find the money to substantiate this claim.
I have declined their offer.

Paul Edis said...

Hi Brian/Lance. I have a gig at Alnwick soon. I can assure you I have a guaranteed fee for the gig well above the MU minimum rate. I agree entirely with the above! Cheers. Paul

CCJAZZMEN said...

Don't worry guys, you are not alone, this type of thing does crop up in Hong Kong also, these people just don't get it, that we also have to make a living, but they seem to think that all musicians just do it for fun, well I think you can guess what my answer was.
Colin Aitchison
China Coast Jazzmen
Hong Kong

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