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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

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, 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.

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