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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.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

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.

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, September 24, 2013

Graham Hardy and the Paul Edis Trio @ The Cherry Tree, Monday Sept. 23

Graham Hardy trumpet and flugelhorn, Paul Edis piano, Paul Susans bass and Rob Walker drums.
(Review by Jerry).
A brief review as I am out of practice!
A disappointing, but not disappointed audience at The Cherry Tree this evening enjoyed fine food, a first set which was excellent, and a second set which was amazing!
I flunked the “Name That Tune” test completely in the first set (jazznoramus!), but found at the interval that I had been enjoying: Long Ago and Far Away, Nica’s Dream, Like Someone in Love, Meditation and Body and Soul. Apologies for merely listing these, but I AM out of practice and was preoccupied with the delightful business of eating (not drinking, I was driver)!
I had noted with alarm the disappearance of the Monday night Table d’hote menu but need not have feared: we dined regally on the new “formule” which is the Á la Carte menu less 20%. Our bill for starters, mains and a bottle of white wine was broadly similar to the last time we dined here, almost a year ago. And the food was fabulous! Recent trips enable me to make comparisons: my crispy duck salad starter blew the socks (spice-wise) off anything I ate in Gerrard Street in London at the weekend while the coley fillet (with chorizo and crispy belly-pork) was as nice a piece of fish as any I found during our summer in France! Chapeau (hats off) to the chef!
I scored several points for tune recognition in the second set which kicked off with Joyspring followed by Boplicity, for which I scribbled “Good groove” in my notepad (not sure what that means, but it felt good). Next up was big applause for It Ain't Necessarily So – an arrangement I’d never heard before which I found later was by Gil Evans. My scribbled note here (“INTERESTING”) really didn’t do it justice!
Graham Hardy’s technique with the “plunger” on Black and Tan Fantasy had the womenfolk weak at the knees, apparently, before we were drummed into Four by Rob Walker then a belting and irresistible invitation to Sing, Sing, Sing! High octane stuff! Order was briefly restored with God Bless the Child before a marching finale of Cherokee and much more applause (the audience was small but vociferous), Wonderful!
It’s my birthday on Wednesday: I think I’ve had my best present already!
Jerry.

1 comment :

JC said...

Just to add to Jerry's review, this was one of those nights when the Cherrytree really does get a jazz club feel (with, of course, fantastic food). As one of my companions said during 'Like Someone in Love' it could have been a basement club in New York. Later Graham Hardy and the band got a cool, West Coast sound and when he picked up his mute, it could have been the Cotton Club. What could be better - four fine musicians playing great jazz with the minimum of chat and gourmet eating at the same time. Terrific.
JC

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