Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 2026)

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

19,105 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 969 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Nov. 14) 39.

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

From This Moment On

November

Sun 15: Lianne Carroll: Jazz Vocal Weekend Workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 9:30am-5:00pm. Day 2/2. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe. 7:00pm. £48.18 (to include dinner); £17.43 (concert only).
Sun 15: Sarah Gillespie & Chris Montague @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sun 15: Liane Carroll @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Solo performance. SOLD OUT!

Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Jacob Egglestone, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.
Tue 17: Grammy Season (Laubrock/Seabrook/Lovato/Rainey) @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm. JNE.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 19: Papa G’s Troves @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 19: Marina Josephina @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £10.60; £10.60.; £8.50 Early Bird.

Fri 20: Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion: The Music of Duke Ellington @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Customs House Big Band @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.

Sat 21: Pete Tanton Duo @ Awesome Frank’s, West Jesmond Metro Station, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £8.00.
Sat 21: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Westovian Theatre, South Shields. 7:30pm. £18.00.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings @ Sage Gateshead November 19

Bill Wyman (bs gtr); Frank Mead (sax/vcl/hca) Nick Payn (sax/hca); Geraint Watkins (keys/vcl); Albert Lee (gtr/vcl); Terry Taylor (gtr/vcl); Graham Broad (dms); Beverly Skeete (vcl) + Maria Muldaur (vcl).
Good old fashioned Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues, Soul, Blues, Jazz - you name it, you got it!
Vocals galore and mind-blowing solos to boot. The only thing that puzzled me was why weren't the audience boppin' and jivin' in the aisles? Then I looked about me - there were as many grey hairs and bald pates as you get at the average north-east jazz concert. More in fact as Hall One, whilst not full to the rafters, had a respectably crowded two tiers with a sprinkling on the third.
This was fun with the two saxes not only laying down the jazz but choreographing their riffs like a 1940s band at Harlem's Apollo Theatre. Both horns doubled on blues harp, jaw harp and Mead had a few vocal blasts as well. Likewise guitarists Lee and Taylor sang the blues and burned the fretboard. Taylor also proved to be a raconteur of the first order getting plenty laughs.
Watkins, depping for an ailing Georgie Fame, also drew the belly laughs as well as the plaudits for his keyboarding and singing.
Beverly Skeete continues to add beauty and vocal skills to the ensemble whilst special guest Maria Muldaur added her own personality to the shebang.
Could it really be 40 years since Midnight at the Oasis? Maria wears it well.
Wyman? Cool, laid back, he did the job and absorbed the jokes - "He's on Sanatogen and Ovaltine" quipped Taylor.
Set list: (1) Chicken Shack (Watkins); Do You Like Soul Music? (Beverly); Good Mornin' Captain (Lee); Just Your Fool (Mead); I'm A Woman, Steady Love; I'll Be So Glad (3 x Maria); Time is on my Side (Watkins); Talk to me Baby (Taylor); Jitterbug Boogie (Lee); Good Rockin' (Beverly/Maria).
(2): It's a Man's World (Beverly); Sugar Babe (Mead); Jump Jive (Lee); 300 lbs of Joy (Watkins); I'll be Satisfied (Beverly); Race With the Devil (Taylor/Lee); Rich Man's Woman's Blues; Midnight at the Oasis; Don't You Feel My Leg (3 x Maria); Johnny B. Goode (Watkins); I Just Want to Make Love to You (Beverly).
There was, no doubt an encore or six, but I was satisfied with what I'd heard and the bus beckoned.
Very enjoyable evening for those who can cross the genres.
Lance.

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