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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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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. CANCELLED!

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, February 16, 2014

Budtones @ Salsa Café February 15

Stuart Findon (Tenor);  Fiona Findon (Tenor/Vocals;) Eric Mckenzie-Stutt (Drums);  Dean Stockdale (Piano);  Paul Grainger (D Bass).
(Review/photo by Kath Jobes)
Well I’d heard that Dean Stockdale had joined the Budtones, but was surprised to see Paul Grainger on Bass, apparently their usual bass player, Andy Porritt became a dad today… a daughter Erin, congratulations Andy, and so the ever flexible Mr Grainger  seamlessly stepped into the breach and did what he does best!
Salsa was pretty packed when I arrived, but my table had been reserved, so I was able to settle down with my cranberry and soda to listen to the music… having realised my pen and pad were in my other coat, I resorted to technology and used the memo facility in my phone to make brief notes. 
The set kicked off with The Message by Nick Weldon, with the two horns out front and sounding stupendous.  Speaking of Stu… the guys went on to play Stu’s Blues, with Fi on vocals.  Next came a lively On Green Dolphin Street, and this brought one couple to the floor to dance,  and that gave an additional pleasure to the evening, as they danced on several occasions.  Miles Davis’ All Blues was followed by one of my favourites to sing, Good Morning Heartache… nice one Fi.  The last tune of the set was Lester Leaps In.
After the interval, the band did a quick rendition of Happy Birthday To You for Stefan, who was dining with friends… good choice for a birthday bash…a night of Jazz and Tapas.
A sweet start to the 2nd set with Sugar was followed by a lovely instrumental arrangement of All The Things You Are.  Fi then stepped up to sing a beautiful ballad, Tenderly, before returning to another lovely tune, Pretty Eyes by Horace Silver.  Next came a tune that Fi Findon has put words to, as apparently several bebop tunes have been  given names with ‘ology’ in them, so this one was named, Notology .  The final number of the night was written about a bass player – Paul Chambers, it was of course Mr PC.
Final comments:  A really tight set, eloquent solos from horns, bass and piano, and when the band played 4s it was Eric’s turn to shine!
Kath J.

1 comment :

Unknown said...

Great Kath, good to see you there. It was a highly enjoyable evening for us too, on the other side of the Bandstand. and so good to see Ike and his lovely wife, dancing the night away.
It was a happy day indeed with the arrival of Erin (Porrit), in to the world, keeping Mr Porrit distracted from depping in for our own Bass player, Jim Crinson. Paul and Eric kept the whole set swinging brilliantly, and such a pleasure to play with them.
Thank you Kath for taking the time to write such a great review, see you tomorrow at the Jazz Cafe Jam session

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