Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Sun 04: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Heugh Battery, Hartlepool. 11:00am-12 noon & 1:00-2:00pm.
Sun 04: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 04: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Bill Watson (trumpet).
Sun 04: Sax Choir w. Rachel Musson @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Rivkala + Ceitidh Mac + Thatcher & Knowles @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. A NFOJAIM event.
Sun 04: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. RESCHEDULED from September 27.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £3.00.

Mon 05: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

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.

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