Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18445 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 309 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 20 ) 43,

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

April

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Nubiyan Twist @ Digital, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £28.75 (inc. bf).
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 7:30pm. Date, time & admission TBC.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 23: FILM: Big Mama Thornton: I Can’t Be Anyone But Me @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 6:15pm. Dir. Robert Clem (2025).
Thu 23: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 23: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 23: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra & Musicians Unlimited @ ARC, Stockton. 8:00pm. £19.00. inc. bf.

Fri 24: Noel Dennis Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. Dennis, Mark Willams, Andy Champion.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Trio Grand @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Ben Vince + The Exu @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £14.33., £11.16, £8.00. A ‘jazz adjacent’ gig!
Fri 24: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £13.20 (inc. bf).
Fri 24: TBC @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm.

Sat 25: Giles Strong Quartet @ Hindmarsh Hall, Alnmouth. 7:30pm.
Sat 25: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Old Cinema Launderette, Durham. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £13.20 (inc. bf).
Sat 25: ‘Portrait in Evans’: Noa Levy & Alan Barnes w. Paul Edis Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £24.00. Sage Two. ‘Portrait in Evans’. Levy, Barnes, Edis, Andy Champion & Steve Hanley.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 26: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Ni Maxine + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sun 26: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 26: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00., £7.00.

Mon 27: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 27: House of Blues @ the Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £7.00., £5.00. advance. A student-led jazz session. ‘House of Blues’ is, perhaps, a misnomer.
Mon 27: Littlewood Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00 + bf, £7.00. + bf.

Tue 28: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!

Friday, August 29, 2014

Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Millstone. August 28

(Review by Russell).
This being the holiday season most of the sections in the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band were bolstered by deps. The band’s last Thursday in the month date at the Millstone goes from strength to strength – no matter who answers Michael Lamb’s call, all do a sterling job.
A late summer upturn in the weather made for something approaching a summer evening; the upstairs room in the Millstone on Haddricks Mill Road resembled a boiler shop. Beer, wine, bottled water, all slaked a thirst. The first set started slightly late due to a straggling dep who shall remain nameless. Once Paul Grainger was set-up and ready to go (oops!), a cracking take on Lester Leaps In featured the first of many tenor solos from Jamie Toms. JT took full advantage of the absent Paul Gowland, the second tenor chair being occupied by dep Kim Webb. Blues Machine heard solos from Keith Robinson (alto) and trombone section stalwart Mark Ferris with the reeds’ ensemble work a highlight.
The rhythm section – the SSBB’s regular drummer (and MC) Guy Swinton with new boy Graham Don (keyboards), Paul Grainger (double bass) and depping A-list guitarist Mick Wright evoking the magical sound of Freddie Green – made for a constant highlight.
With all seats taken in the Millstone’s boiler shop, the band hammered out short, punchy numbers ranging from Tom Kubis to Sammy Nestico’s Basie Straight Ahead (the latter a showcase for the full strength trumpet section). Band MD Lamb threw in a brisk solo and drew deserved applause. Vocalist Lindsay Hannon summed-up the evening telling us that it was Too Darn Hot. You bet!
The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, That Old Black Magic, A Tisket A Tasket, the Strictly Smokin’ didn’t mess around. Solos were plentiful (Pete Tanton, trumpet, Steve Summers, alto and flute) and the determinedly non-soloing Mick Wright ensured the success of this cracking, must-get-to-monthly session.
Much of the material will be heard again next week on a gig in Carlisle. If you’re over that way, look them up.                         
Russell.
Strictly Smokin’ Big Band: Jamie Toms (tenor), Kim Webb (tenor), Keith Robinson (alto & flute), Steve Summers (alto), Nicola Weaver (baritone); Michael Lamb, Pete Tanton, Gordon Marshall, Tom Hill (trumpets); Mark Ferris, Keiran Parnaby,  Matthew Fletcher, John Flood (trombones); Graham Don (keyboards), Mick Wright (guitar), Paul Grainger (double bass) & Guy Swinton (drums) & Lindsay Hannon (vocals)
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