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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 ...

April 2025.

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.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: 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

Saturday, October 19, 2013

CD Reviews: Eileen Howard - Blues in the Green Room and Street of Dreams

Blues in the Green Room - Eileen Howard Live at the Garden Theatre: Eileen Howard (vcl); Ed Moed (keys); Randy Mather (sax); David Bennett (gtr); Chris Ciampa (bs); The Governor (dms).
---- 
Street of Dreams: Eileen Howard (vcl); Richard Lopez (pno); Roger Hines (bs); Matt Wagner (dms); Michael Cox (sax/clt).
(Review by Lance)
Two CD's from Eileen Howard, a lady unfamiliar to my ears. Paradoxically, Eileen tells me that ten years ago she was in Corbridge with her husband on a tour of the Roman Wall. Ten years ago I could have been cycling in the Corbridge area! who's to say we weren't having lunch in the same pub? If we had I'm sure it would have been Easy to Remember. - a song sung beautifully on the live recording. Both discs have much to recommend them not least because of the choice of tunes but particularly the way Howard deals with them. My reaction to Fever and Black Coffee was to groan - "Not again!" And then I listened! Nothing will replace Peg's versions but, if you'd heard these tracks first then maybe, just maybe the positions would be reversed.
This girl can sing the blues no doubt - imagine Bessie Smith digitally recorded with the rough edges slightly smoothed and you've got Eileen in the Green Room.  Then there's Ida Cox's Wild Women Don't Have The Blues, a number associated with the elusive Nancy Harrow. Eileen throws her underwear into the ring without the help Harrow got from Buck Clayton's Band and emerges triumphant!
Street of Dreams is a less earthy affair but still allows the taste buds to flow with as  fine a selection of gasbook interpretations this side of Frank and Ella and her take on The Nearness of You would do credit to either of the aforementioned icons.
Both discs have immaculate backing with the two sax players gilding the lily.
It saddens me to think she passed through our area without warbling a note although I suppose work permits and things also stepped in but, in my dreams, I'm sitting in the Bluebell in Corbridge enjoying a pint of  one of Wylam Breweries finest when an American lady stands up, looks at me and sings Will You Dance? Will I?! Then I awake and find I'm smooching the duvet!
Still, I've got the CDs!
 Lance..
at

1 comment :

Eileen Howard said...

Thanks for the great review! Now, who wants to give me a gig in the UK so I can come drink a pint with Lance?

Saturday, October 19, 2013 10:41:00 pm

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