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.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Rae Brothers New Orleans Jazz Band – 'Jazz @ the Fell @ The Legion Christmas Party – December 20

 Paul Bacon dms, John Robinson bass, Dave Rae bjo, Jim Blenkin tbn, Liz Bacon clt plus guests Peter Wright tpt and Ian Wynne pno.
(Review by Roly Veitch)
A lovely session of pure New Orleans jazz was served up for the faithful regulars, along with the traditional sumptuous Christmas buffet, making for a most enjoyable and convivial evening. This just one of literally hundreds of concerts that have been staged by the Fell jazz club since it was all begun by the late drummer Ray Brown back in 1994. When Ray tragically passed away in 2000 the running of the club was taken on by enthusiasts Ron and Joyce Pollard who have, with great determination and devotion, kept the club going since then, such that it reaches its 20th anniversary in 2014. That will be 20 years of weekly sessions – somewhere around 1000 concerts. They deserve a medal!
This evening Rae Brothers, great favourites at the club, delivered their own rather special brand of egoless, pure ensemble style New Orleans jazz – as always played with such a lovely gentle, subtle, authentic feel and delightful, foot tapping rhythm. Its not by luck that this band are hugely popular at clubs and festivals all over the UK and beyond. A great selection of tunes – Carolina Moon, Walking with the King, Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet, Bye and Bye, Moonlight Bay, Ma, She's Making Eyes at me, Sugar Blues, In the Highways, Shake it and Break it, St Louis Blues and more.
A few years back a young pianist became a protégée of the band. Ian Wynne has gone on to study music completing his degree at Birmingham and now working for a masters at Manchester. He is indeed a young master of early jazz piano styles – ragtime, boogie woogie, blues, stride. Tonight the band gave him a 20 minute solo feature. The audience were enraptured by his performance of Dr John's Song for Mother, Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag and the waltz Bethena, Professor Longhair's Tipitina (with vocal) and an Albert Ammons boogie woogie. All immaculately played.
The band finished the evening with a rousing Ice Cream and Winter Wonderland (one of several nice vocals by Dave this evening) sending everyone home happy and in the Christmas spirit.
Thanks from all of us to Ron and Joyce for all their hard work and dedication.
Roly.

No comments :

Blog Archive