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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

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

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Jam Session @ The Salsa Cafe, Sunday December 22

Pete Gilligan (keys); Paul Grainger (bass); Michael Howard (drums); Stuart McKie (guitar)
And Many Others to be mentioned
(Review by Ann Alex).
Lance appealed for more horns to come to this session and they certainly did: John Rowland, Stuart Findon and Fiona Findon, appeared during the afternoon with their tenor saxes, and also a lad (from London I believe) Sam Newbold, with his alto, who played some blistering fast sax, a joy for horn lovers and everyone else.
But back to the beginning, which saw me eating delicious carrot and coriander soup with a fishcake sandwich and salad, (Salsa Cafe food recommended) and the basic band getting stuck in straight away. 
Pete Gilligan has lost none of his flowing touch, Paul and Michael played well and dependably and Stuart did his bit with flair.  The atmosphere was suitably informal with non jazzers having drinks and quiet chat.  I counted 5 children as well, and 2 of them were watching the drums intently, catch them young I say. We were treated to tunes which included Have You Met Miss Jones; There’ll Never Be Another You; All The Things You Are; Lullaby Of Birdland; All Of Me and a few tunes I couldn’t identify. 
Enter Simon Stephenson on guitar who featured skilfully on Misty; Fiona sang well on Green Dolphin Street but she had to stand at the side of the stage because of the large number of instrumentalists playing.  Then I noticed another guitarist had entered the scene, sorry I didn’t get his name, and behold there was Ray Burns blowing well on harmonica.  Up steps my jazz-singing colleague Jen Errington with They Can’t Take That Away From Me, who looked and sounded professional, Jen gets better each time I hear her.  In comes yours truly with Bye Bye Blackbird, I like to do my bit, so I hope others enjoyed it.  By this time the clock was beating us, getting towards six, so the musicians rounded off with Night In Tunisia.
A really good session with long tunes which allow for plenty enjoyable solos.  Sorry if I’ve missed anyone out, but it was a busy afternoon!
Ann Alex

2 comments :

Ann Alex said...

And yes, I missed out a drummer who goes by the name of Eric Stutt, as I was informed. Not sure how I could omit such a loud sound as drums, but there you go.
Ann Alex

Lance said...

Eric gave this a "like" on F/b so your oversight hasn't offended him!

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