Bebop Spoken There

Warne Marsh: "At some point, you have to be prepared to create—to perform. It's vital, man, if we're talking about jazz, the original jazz, the performing art. It fulfils its meaning only when you play it live in front of an audience." DownBeat January 1983.

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

18191 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 45 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 14), 45

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 17: Homer’s Lane + John Garner & John Pope @ St John’s Church, Riding Mill. 2:00-4:00pm. Free. Gabriele Heller’s audio play + Garner & Pope.
Sat 17: Martyn Roper @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 5:00pm. Free. Roper’s ‘One Man Blues Band’.
Sat 17: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 17: Alexia Gardner Trio @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). Gardner, Alan Law & Jude Murphy.

Sun 18: Louis Louis Louis @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 2:00pm (doors). £15.00. Swing, jump jive, rhythm & blues. Fundraiser for St Oswald’s Hospice.
Sun 18: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Trio + Rod Sinclair.
Sun 18: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm.
Sun 18: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 18: Herdman-Strong Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 19: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 20: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.

Wed 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 21: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 21: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 22: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: 2025 obituaries.
Thu 22: Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Thu 22: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta. @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm (doors). £6.50 (inc. bf).

Fri 23: Sue Ferris Quintet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 23: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

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, November 02, 2013

Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party @ The Village Hotel nr. Shiremoor, Day one: Afternoon. November 1..

(Photo - Daryl Sherman (right) and north-east jazz enthusiast Margaret Barnes)
Such was the diversity of jazz in the pre bebop era that this year's Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party was able to present  almost 40 concerts over the three days each with a different theme.
Day One had afternoon sessions exploring the music of Jimmy Noone; Early Ellington; King Oliver in New York; Rarely played Bix and the first session I was able to attend. 
Mildred Bailey/Swing.
Daryl Sherman (vcl/pno); Emma Fisk (vln); Duke Heitger (tpt); Alistair Allan (tmb/vcl); Jean-Francois Bonnel (reeds); Keith Nichols (pno/vcl); Spats Langham (gtr/bjo/vcl); Henry Lemaire (bs); Richard Pite (dms).
A tribute to "The Rockin' Chair Lady" interspersed with swing instrumentals, it was appropriate that, after a robust Shanghai Shuffle from the band, Daryl should sing Rockin' Chair.After a few words about Mildred Bailey the always smiling Ms Sherman moved on to Someday Sweetheart sung in her inimitable and appealing voice. The band all soloed effectively and none more so than Emma Fisk who had a fiery solo that drew nods of approval from the singer and vociferous applause from the audience.
Spat's crooned Sunday and trombonist Allan  impressed with his Teagarden-like solo and vocal on I Cover the Waterfront. Daryl gave us Billy Reid's I'll Close my Eyes plus more info on Mildred Bailey and her husband Red Norvo including their legendary arguments when "in their cups".
Go Harlem with Nichols to the fore and Heitger, Bonnel, Allan and Fisk saying plenty along with some  Chick Webb inspired drumming from Pite. More piano on I've Got my Love to Keep me Warm but this time with a difference. After Daryl's vocal she joined the pianist for a four-hander then took over for a chorus or two on her own before returning to the microphone.
The set finished with Nichols and Spats duetting vocally on Happy Feet and it was with very happy feet that we retired to the bar or, in my case, the CD stall where I performed my stewarding duties.
A good start to the Classic Jazz Party - the late Mike Durham whose spirit surely hovered over us would surely have been proud of the way his baby remains alive and healthy.
Lance.

No comments :

Blog Archive