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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

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Pink Lane Jazz Coop: The Henchmen and Burundanga @ World Headquarters, Newcastle, Nov 23

The Henchmen: Belinda Voshtina (vocals); Tim Bloomer (guitar); James Carmichael (drums); A N Other (bass guitar)
(Review by Ann Alex).
Sorry about not knowing the line-up properly, but I could see that the personnel were different from an incarnation reviewed previously in BSH and I hadn’t seen this band before. Katie Trigger was not on bass - presumably saving herself for her part in Burundanga later.
And when the band kicked off I wasn't’ disappointed, no way. Belinda sings in an expressive strong voice, backed by truly competent musicians, playing in an interesting style which bears the influence of rock as well as jazz, with plenty of solos for the band.  Out spun the numbers such as: Route 66; with the guitars portraying a journey, a sexy swirling Fever; Ray Charles’ Unchain My Heart; Georgia; Besame Mucho; and finally The Thrill Is Gone.
If I describe the venue, readers may be able to pick up on the atmosphere of the evening. It’s situated near the old Worswick Street bus station and has obviously had a previous life as a warehouse.This nightclub is an independent organisation based on the idea of being affordable and based on enjoyment of music rather than drinking.  Multiculturalism is emphasised and the young clientèle were really friendly.So these were very suitable surroundings for:
Burundanga - Alan Law (Keys); Katie Trigger (double bass) and 6 others on hand drums, kit, percussion; guitars, vocals.
I love the way this type of band begins, by a sort of calling on process, rumbles of drums, whistles, cymbals shaking, the odd shout, great tension-building stuff. You know this is to be a wonderful mixture of Afro, Caribbean, funk, and tonight there were lots of Latin rhythms, duets, songs with question and answer, short bursts from band sections in turn, how do they know when it’s their turn? Can’t name the songs as I recognised only one and the singing was in Spanish and other languages. I can’t say much more either because I spent most of the set dancing as did many others – I found it impossible to stay sitting. One of the later numbers was especially great stuff, beginning with the girl singer and fast drums at the back, then a build up as others joined in, lots of us dancing, then a sudden end, just like that.
A thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Ann Alex    

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