Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

May

Mon 25: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 26: Noel Dennis Sextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00. A Miles Davis centenary concert (Davis b. 26. 5. 1926). Noel Dennis (trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums). SOLD OUT!
Tue 26: Lagos to Longbenton @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Miles Davis & His Favourite Musicians.
Thu 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 28: Bobby Rush @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. + bf. Veteran USA bluesman.
Thu 28: Squabble @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 28: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.

Sat 30: Giles Strong Quartet @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £1.50 bf.

Sun 31: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 31: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 31: Sinfonia of London: Tea Dance @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. Free. John Wilson ensemble performing on the concourse. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin & more.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 31: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 31: Ben Haskins Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

Wednesday, March 05, 2014

Jazz Café Jam Session March 4.

Piano: Pete Gilligan; Paul Edis; Steve Brown; Joel Brown.
Bass: Paul Grainger; John Pope.
Drums: Paul Wight; Ian Forbes.
Alto: Paul Ruddick.
Tenor: Arthur Higgins; Johnny Davis.
Trumpet: Don Forbes.
Guitar: Simon Stephenson; Mike.
Apologies to anyone I've overlooked.
(Review by Lance).
Another well attended jam session both on and off stage with quite a few surprises. Messrs Gilligan, Grainger and Wight set the benchmark with driving versions of Someday My Prince Will Come, A Petrucciani tune and Horace Silver's Quicksilver. Next up Joel Brown - all of 14 years old -  Joel gave us a very tasteful version of Autumn Leaves followed by Body and Soul. This young man has the potential to go far.
It was a night for pianists! No less than Paul Edis Stepped Out of a Dream with Ian Forbes who stepped into a drum (kit). Magic. Steve Brown, father and mentor of the aforementioned Joel, took over at the upright for All the Things You Are and All of Me. Like father like son was the thought that ran through my mind.
A break then a couple of guitar duets by Simon Stephenson on amplified acoustic and a guy named Mike on what looked like a Telecaster. A distinct hot club feel to their two numbers the second one of which was Fly Me To the Moon. Mike tells me he plays in a Hawaiian swing band - the Hawaiian Hinnies (or maybe its the Whi-I-Man Hinnies? whatever, I  say Hawaii the lads!)
Time for the horns to move in.
John Pope was now on bass and Don Forbes and Johnny Davis blew on I Wish I Knew How it Feels to be Free then So What? Paul Ruddick materialised during the course of this one.
Arthur Higgins gave us some Tenor Madness before leaving us In a Sentimental Mood. It was also time for me to leave. I suspect Lindsay Hannon or Kath Jobes may have added some vocal touches.
To sum up, a jolly good night was had by all!
Photos.
Lance
PS: Paul Wight asked for and received a round of applause in memory of the late Mick Danby whose funeral it was today. RIP Mick. Fond memories.

1 comment :

Unknown said...

just brilliant, sorry me and Stu can't get there for a while, but as soon as we can we will. Meantime, I will keep enjoying the blog!

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