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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 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. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! 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.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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, September 11, 2013

Caro Emerald @ Sage Gateshead. Sept. 10

Caro Emerald (vcl) + Band. (Apologies but I didn't catch any of the band members' names. If anyone can help out please do.)
Sage Gateshead was three tiers full which means totally sold out as indeed it has been for several weeks - and deservedly so. By no means was this a jazz gig although there were enough jazz elements present to appeal to all but the most blinkered aficionado. Jazz, Rock, Latin, Pop, Ska even Charleston were all in the mix along with a few more - often in the same tune!
Emerald has a voice that easily absorbs whatever genre she sings in and comes out as pure Caro. I didn't catch all the song titles but among the ones I did note were You Came Along, How Long, Liquid Lunch, I'm Comin' Back as a Man, Stuck, Tangled Up, Back it up. Night Like This, I Belong to You, I Want You, The Wonderful in You.
Her voice takes these songs and sings them as no one else could which isn't surprising as I believe she wrote them all herself!
Behind her the band were a precision unit yet still retained the looseness necessary in any performance irrespective of genre. The horns were outstanding as a unit and all three - baritone/tenor, trumpet/cornet and trombone/euphonium - had moments in the sun. The baritone player's blast on I Want You was of Gonsalves proportions that segued from a Charleston into a vintage Rock & Roll number with Caro herself doing a few bars of flapper style terpsichore.
The guitarist switched guitars several times, a solid body that may have been an SG (I was in row o), a semi and a Maccaferri. His chords and solos were the biz. The bassist switched from bass guitar to double bass to keyboard bass. Keyboards had an impressive solo feature, a guy on some kind of synth device produced weird yet often effective sounds and the kitman goosed everything nicely along. There was also somebody playing a marching style bass drum on a stand on one number. Have I missed anyone?
By the time the "last number" was reached we were all on our feet dancing, clapping and oo oo ooing along.
A confession! I hate encores! Not the actual music but the fact that we have to practically take the skin off our palms and shout ourselves hoarse calling for more before the artist(s) condescend to return.
Tonight, it was worth it! That Man was nothing less than brilliant. So good in fact that we bayed for more and got it.
A low keyed If You Go Away, sung partially in French, was as poignant a song as I've heard in long time. It was the only non-original after which we left in a thoughtful (yet happy) mood.
Apart from the music - the light show and the backdrop were artistic triumphs of their own!
Sorry you missed it or couldn't get a ticket? Well all is not lost.
Caro Emerald's 2014 "The Shocking Miss Emerald Tour" is back in the area on March 18 - not at Sage Gateshead but at Newcastle City Hall. As the City Hall has a smaller capacity I suggest you think about booking now!
Lance.
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