Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 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

19,061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 925 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 30) 104.

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

October.

Sat 31: Saltburn Big Band + Durham Alumni Big Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Sat 31: East Coast Swing Band @ Cramlington Village Club, Park View, Cramlington NE23 6QJ. 7:30pm. £10.00. (from venue).

November

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Donna Hewitt (tenor sax, clarinet)
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Sarah Heneghan Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 03: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. guest tba
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: An Evening of Erykah Badu @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 7:30pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 05: Hejira - Celebrating Joni Mitchell @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Thu 05: Cut Capers @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).
Thu 05: Northern Reaches @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations). Pete Tanton, Joe Steels, Laurence Blackadder, John Hirst.
Thu 05: Fergus McCreadie @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Fri 06: Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel, West Allotment. 12 noon. Day 1/3.
Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Jazz Night: Bridget Metcalfe @ Saltburn House Hotel. From 6:00pm. Tickets: £40.00 (inc. a two-course meal & glass of Prosecco). Tel: 01287 658977.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Hoochie Coochie Sept 21.

Michael Lamb (MD), Pete Tanton, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey (tpts); Keiran Parnaby, John Flood, John Day, Dave Barnes (tmb); Steve Summers, Keith Robinson (alt); Jamie Toms, Paul Gowland (ten);Laurie Rangecroft  (bar); Graham Don (pno); Pawel Jedrejewski (gtr); Michael Whent (bs); Guy Swinton (dms); James Hedley/Lindsay Hannon (vcls). 
(Review by Lance)/photo courtesy of Ken Drew)
There should be a warning on the music stands of the Strictly Smokin' Big Band  - like there are on a packet of Silk Cut - Smoking can damage your health. Take it from me that, listening to this band, the danger level is even higher! Lower your blood pressure? - no sir it will send it rocketing through the ceiling! So be warned!
However, if your constitution can cope, go for it. And if it can't? Then what a way to go!
We coped, I think, the band was at its storming best, the room was crowded and a ball was had. No need to single out the soloists, you know who they are and they didn't disappoint.
Lindsay and James were on the money and I was delighted by their How Do You Like Your Eggs in the Morning?
Memories of Vic Damone and Jane Powell in Rich Young and Pretty...aaah! 
Folk danced - doesn't that just add to the atmosphere? Music and dance, beats furrowed brows every time!
This band just goes from strength to strength - always a joy to hear but, the room was so crowded that maybe they need a bigger venue? Nah, the ambience is here and Warren has given them the space to blow so let's support them, and Warren, by at least buying a drink. After all, it costs nowt to get in!
Lance.
PS:: Just a few more observations - The Way You Look Tonight (by James) - the line "Keep that breathless charm" OMG Jerome Kern never wrote four more beautifully descriptive words.
Jive At Five - it was on the first ever LP I owned (Basie).
Is Four Brothers in the pad? and I know someone who'd love to hear Steve or Keith blowing on Jeeps Blues!
Lance.
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2 comments :

Russell said...

Lindsay looked (and sounded) great and all the boys in the band appeared to have combed their hair! A 'smokin'' session.

Monday, September 22, 2014 2:56:00 pm
Patti D. said...

Smokin' and stormin' - hotter than hades - and sweetly swinging. An ace gig.

Monday, September 22, 2014 4:03:00 pm

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