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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

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

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

Jazz Esquires @ The Porthole, North Shields.

Terry Dalton (tmb/vcl); Tony Winder (ten/clt/wbd); Laurie Brown (clt/dms); Pepe Greenaway (alt); Roy Gibson (keys); Peter Ninnim (dms).
(Review by Lance).
Back in the 1940s, one of the London jazz clubs was The Nuthouse - I think Carlo Krahmer had a band there. This was before my time but today, the Porthole could easily have inherited that mantle. I say this with fondness and affection as it was a fun packed afternoon albeit not always intentionally!
My mission had several aims, not all of which were accomplished.
Laurie Brown on tenor. I knew the ex-Squadronaires' drummer as a first rate stickman, a good vibes player and a competent owner of a clarinet. But how did he rate on tenor? The jury is out on this one as he arrived tenor-less. Still he did okay on clarinet, opening the case like a true pro. (Actually he blew some fine choruses too!)
Miles Watson: Miles was miles away today which caused some confusion when I overheard Terry say, "This is one of Miles' numbers". I anticipated All Blues but I'd picked up on the wrong Miles - Dinnington as opposed to Detroit - still Terry's vocal on Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter didn't hurt and Tony's metal Selmer clarinet solo was worth the £3 pint of Tyneside Blonde.
Pepe Greenaway: Good to catch up with Pepe AKA Peter. These days he's definitely Pepe and his alto solos - modern by comparision - were indeed peppery.
Roy Gibson: Without a visible bass player I wondered where the perfectly executed basslines were coming from. Roy's a two hander so I guessed he had a set of pedals. I couldn't verify this until the interval otherwise the ladies present may have thought I was trying to look up their skirts! This was silly as they were, like so many women do these days, wearing trousers. Perhaps us men should start wearing skirts!
Tony Winder: Tony blew tenor, clarinet and brought the house down with his washboard playing - next week I'll bring my laundry. He also gave a nice rendition of Have You Met Miss Jones? on tenor.
Terry Dalton: Trombone like it should be played - Teagarden and Dorsey the latter being remembered on Getting Sentimental Over You. Terry also took care of the vocals apart from...
Dave Bosomworth: In the absence of Teresa, Dave was the only floor singer, albeit not without some non-vocal "help". Dave gave out with Sunnyside of the Street and It Had to be You. The latter title may have been directed at the lady who joined him on the sunnyside of the street to add some Terpsichore to the proceedings. She had fun and wasn't ejected!
Peter Ninnim: Peter can swing a band of any size and it was a treat to hear two good swingers such as Laurie and Peter alternating behind the kit.
So there you have it. If you go along with the sentiments expressed in their opening number that It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing then the Porthole is the place for you.
If nothing else, the Ferry 'cross the Tyne is worth the trip!
Lance.

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