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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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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 02, 2014

Djangologie @ Jazz Café. February 1

Mick Shoulder (contrabasse), Emma Fisk (violon), James Birkett (guitare) & Giles Strong (guitare rythmique)
(Review by M. Russell/Photo by Mlle. Kath J.)
Saturday evening in a little café in Newcastle sur Seine. Friends, couples, lovers engaged in low level, if not intimate, conversation. A bottle of Rivet Catcher (Jarrow sur Seine), the offer of a flower vase politely declined in favour of a ‘traditional’ half glass. Perhaps the hot topic was the result of the day’s 'grand' match at St James’, given the outcome perhaps not. Intermittent downpours dampened the enthusiasm for ‘le punch-up’, drowning of sorrows the priority. Earlier in the day your reviewer could be found in a nameless Tyneside hostelry watching ‘Le Debacle’. The (illegal) overseas television coverage courtesy of Canal Plus, Les Mags’ French Contingent would surely do ‘le business’. Non! 
To ‘le jazz’. Djangologie, the north east of England’s ambassadors of all things Django, set up and tuned up quietly (an indication that there is a good band in the house). Monsieur M.Shoulder arranged for Dinah to arrive right on time. From the first chords struck by guitar masters James Birkett and Giles Strong we were in Hot Club paradise. Douce Ambience, Coquette, was there anything finer? How about Mademoiselle Fisk? Emma, the birthday girl (Jan 31), extended celebrations to include this Jazz Café engagement. The establishment benefitted from the arrival of a large party out on the town celebrating a birthday amongst their number. The atmosphere all the more authentique with the bon viveurs dressed in ‘20s fashions. The gentlemen, suited in spats and hats, the ladies in flapper finery with hairstyles to match! The chatterbox-o-meter reached new heights – cocktails all round – but no matter, the place was buzzing. Djangologie responded with Artillerie Lourdes (one nil to the band). Stompin’ at Decca closed out the set (2-0 to the band). Stupendous playing, tumultuous applause. The quartet took a bow and this just the interval! KJ and friend departed for some Salsa Café jazz just as P and D arrived at a stompin’ good time. Mick Shoulder writes for the band and such is the quality of the writing one could be forgiven for confusing a Django number with a Shoulder composition. Song for Izumi and the baroque waltz Beautiful Till 3 (a tale of unrequited love) maintained the standard in the second set. The Sheik of Araby, taken at whirling dervish tempo, produced near impossible feats of musicianship form the quartet; Shoulder and Strong immense, Fisk and Birkett bagging the eye-catching solos. Bandleader Shoulder announced the final number – Les Yeux Noir – suggesting there could be an encore. More astounding playing. Cries of  ‘Encore! Encore!’. Encore won. Magnifique!          
Russell.                         

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