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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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

Monday, January 27, 2014

Jazz North East All-Day Jazz Extravaganza @ Bridge Hotel and Jazz Café











(Review/Photos -l/r - by Lance)
A day of many highs and only one low. Set in two venues within walking distance of each other Jazz North East presented 16 different line-ups in an attempt to fill the coffers left bare by the lamentable decision of the "Arts Council" to withdraw funding. The artists gave their services free and it is to be hoped the event was a financial success as well as an artistic one.
Both venues were never less than near full with audiences moving back and forth between the two according to their stylistic preferences. Split evenly between straight ahead jazz and the current improv scene - several artists such as Jason Yarde, Corey Mwamba, Andy Champion and John Pope were at home in both genres - the programming avoided clashes between the two.
Too much to review in detail save to say all acquitted themselves admirably. Zoe Gilby (with Andy Champion, bass, Mark Williams, guitar and Adrian Tilbrook, drums), gave an impressive opening set. Matt Anderson (tenor) in the company of Graham Hardy (trumpet), Lloyd Wright (guitar), Mick Shoulder (bass) and Adam Sinclair (drums) excelled before it was time to trek over to the Jazz Café for the Alex Hutton Trio. Hutton played a blinder! Ably supported by John Pope (bass) and, first Tilbrook and then David Carnegie on drums, the pianist entertained - not just with his dazzling technique but also his easy microphone manner as he related humourous tales re each piece.
Next up was to be a highlight - Simon Spillett and Matt Anderson in a two tenor front line - possibly recreating the legendary Jazz Couriers of yore. It was not to be. Simon, didn't make it. Fortunately Matt did and, having warmed up earlier at the Bridge he now laid down a solid set of standards with the Paul Edis Trio (Edis (piano); Shoulder (bass); Sinclair (drums).) Even without Simon it was still a highlight!
A break for tiffin or rather a Haggis Scotch Egg and Chutney (leftover from Burns Night?) at the Bridge followed by the Graeme Wilson Quintet which became a septet with the addition of Corey Mwamba on vibes and Alan Law on keys alongside Wilson (tenor); Dennis (trumpet); Williams (guitar); Champion (bass) and Tilbrook (drums.) A cracking set that occasionally verged on the free.
Back over to the Jazz Café for Jason Yarde and the Northern Express - as he retitled the band for the evening. Hardy, Wright, Shoulder and Carnegie gelled with Yarde who blew scintillating alto and curved soprano.
Up from Birmingham, the Jonathan Silk Quintet did give us a two tenor front-line with John Fleming and Nick Rundle. A good choice of original material by drummer Silk drew much applause from the now crowded room. Andy Bunting on piano and Chris Mapp on bass completed the ensemble. Five of Birmingham's finest.
The final set was by Paul Edis and Friends but, by this time - 8 hours of sitting, listening, walking, sitting, listening, walking was taking it's toll so I reluctantly bid adieu to what had been a day to go down in the annuls of north east jazz history.
Lance.
PS: As I didn't make it to the improv. sessions I look forward to hearing from those who did.
PPS: Link to Photos by Ken Drew.

1 comment :

Lance said...

Apologies from Simon Spillett for his no show. Suffering from a bad back. He did email his apologies to the organisers which unfortunately weren't passed on to me.
Get well soon Simon.

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