Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

September.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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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