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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

17,533 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 497 of them this year alone and, so far, 75 this month (June 23).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

Thu 26: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Brass Instruments & the use of mutes.

Fri 27: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Time After Time’.

Sat 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Linskill Centre, North Shields. 4:00-10:30pm. Free, but ticketed (over 18s only). A multi-bill, multi-genre ‘Canny Shiels - North Shields 800’ event. Three Kings Brewery on site.
Sat 28: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 29: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 29: Bal Bruch Social Dance @ As You Like It, Sandyford, Newcastle. 12:30pm. Free. Dance event with Hot Club de Heaton performing live (2:00-3:00pm). A ‘Jar on the Bar’ event.
Sun 29: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 3:00pm. Ray McVay & co.
Sun 29: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: Zoë Gilby w. Ryton Choral Society @ Corbridge Middle School NE45 5HX. 5:30pm. £15.00. Gilby w jazz trio & choir. ‘An evening of jazz song for choir’.
Sun 29: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 29: John Wilson & the Sinfonia of London @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Greatest Hits’.
Sun 29: Out Front @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

JULY 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Improvisers’ Workshop @ Jazz Café. September 9

(Review by Russell).
The Jazz Café’s monthly improv workshop has quickly established itself on the local scene. September’s event attracted familiar faces and one or two newcomers. Led by John Pope (double bass) and percussionist Wes Stephenson, the numerous participants worked in a series of duos, trios, quartets and larger ensembles.
Alpine kazoo cast aside inhibition to join Pope and Stephenson and before long alto, soprano and flute threw caution to the wind and their collective improv hat into the ring. 
Pianist Alan Law walked in and formed a lyrical ‘triette’, no, a ‘triage’ someone said to much laughter, with Pope and Karen Rann (soprano). Pope and Jeff Smith (flute) paired-up, so too Nigel (‘small toys’ and voice) and a ukulele. Stephenson vacated the drum chair to focus his attention on a bottle of Price Bishop, leaving the way clear for Christian Alderson to pick-up the sticks and interact with erstwhile musical partner Paul Taylor (piano). Alderson’s ‘extended technique’ included playing the hitherto unnoticed wall-mounted radiator. 
Last month’s welcome contributor – pocket trumpet man Andrew – arrived and in no time struck a musical conversation with Colin (alto), Rann and Smith. Ian Forbes popped his head round the door, took one look, and, being Forbesy, promptly left.
Davide sat front row, later to announce himself as a drummer – his thunderous approach added an extra dimension. ‘Shakey’ Ann Alex belatedly got in on the action (shakey eggs, flute, hand-clap and dunked biscuit). The finale featured everyone including the late arrival bass clarinetist lurking at the door. October’s session is on Tuesday 14 (8:00pm).  
Russell.

3 comments :

Anonymous said...

Russell, I'd love to be able to play the flute, what I played was the tin whistle, the flute is held sideways on. I don't remember the biscuit! I thought this event was as much drama as music, very interesting.
Ann Alex

Russell said...

Hi Ann

Flute? Tin whistle?

Russell The Unobservant

Paul said...

The description of me as Christian's "erstwhile" musical partner is fortunately inaccurate. Although it's ages since The Long Lonesome Go have played live, we are still an active unit, albeit currently sporadically and mainly in the practice room. We will eventually reconvene on stage. Watch this space: https://soundcloud.com/the-long-lonesome-go

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