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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.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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.

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

Monday, October 07, 2013

Bill Harper Remembers Part 3.

Numerous trombone players spring to mind, Slide Hampton was terrific & after the gig he regaled us with wonderful stories about Dizzy, Monk, Bird etc.George Masso, Jiggs Whigham, Phil Wilson, all great players, were a pleasure to work with but who can compare with Mark Nightingale & my all time personal favourite Roy Williams who has to be the most musical trombonist & all-round good egg of my generation. His selection of material & finely crafted solo work make him revered throughout the world & I have good memories of the friendship we had.
Tal Farlow was a lovely man although Willie Payne gave him a run for his money that night!! But it was not all plain sailing. Joe Newman was a complete pain in the ass & almost came to blows with drummer Dennis Healey but other guys confirmed that his irrational behaviour was quite normal for him. I worked with him again some years later at Ulverston & he was a shadow of his former self. He didn't seem to have a clue where he was & his "chops" had gone. He opened with Bye Bye Blackbird which was barely recognisable & it all went downhill from there.
He couldn't think of anything to play & I had to call the shots-- he was virtually gaga. It must be the sea air at Ulverston because we had a similar problem with Alan Elsdon who was in the first stages of Alzheimer’s & kept asking "I haven't already played this tune', have I?”. Ted Curson was another whose chops had gone & if Sid had not joined him on stage to take some of the weight, he would never have got thro. the night. All very sad
But the daddy of them all was Kenny Davern who was trouble where ever he went. I first met him at Redcar with Roy Williams where I took my elec. piano -- there was no piano provided at the venue which was a big old dance hall. He objected to my piano, he didn't like electric instruments but he changed his opinion when I threatened to go home. Halfway thro . the set he fell out with the sound engineer & instructed him to turn all the mikes off which immediately upset the audience who were complaining that they couldn't hear. The gig ground to a very unsatisfactory conclusion.
The following year I was asked to support him at a pub in Marton which had no piano. I had just arrived at the venue but hadn't yet unloaded my keyboard when he appeared. "What kind of piano do we have tonight?" he asked in his usual sarcastic manner. I said that I would use the house keyb'd & pointed to the far wall to a huge column radiator covered in an elaborate wooden cover which ,from a distance, looked like an old bellows organ. I said that I was sorry that it wasn't electric but that once  I got the front off I should be able to pump it OK! A terrified look appeared on his face until he realised that I was kidding. "You bastard !!!", he said.  (part3)
Bill Harper.
(Photo Bill Harper and Roly Veitch)

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