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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

18018 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 339 of them this year alone and, so far, 17 this month (May 7).

From This Moment On ...

MAY 2025

Tue 13: ???

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Recital (stage 2): Leah Kirk (voice) @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 3:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 14: Jerron Paxton @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £24.20. Excellent country blues multi-instrumentalist.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. BACK IN BUSINESS, all welcome!

Thu 15: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: The Greatest in Jazz - Guitarists.
Thu 15: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 15: New Ways of Moving in the Counterworlds @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). John Garner & John Pope.

Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Sophie Speed with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ Longframlington Memorial Hall. 7:00pm (doors). Tickets: £12.00. from 01665 570984.
Fri 16: Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00.
Fri 16: Peter Donegan & Anthony Donegan @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. ‘Lonnie Donegan - The Stories’.

Sat 17: Teresa Watson Band @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sat 17: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Tel: 0191 500 9494. £26.00 (inc. two course meal). Line-up: Jason Holcomb, Hannah Taylor, Alix Shepherd & Abbie Finn.
Sat 17: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 17: Archie Brown & the Young Bucks @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues, Americana etc.
Sat 17: Rockin’ Turner Brothers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Rockabilly, Western swing etc.

Sun 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 18: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 18: Ruth Lambert & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 18: Steve Summers Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 19: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 19: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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

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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