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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

Sunday, November 09, 2014

Havana Club 5 @ Empty Shop, Durham. Nov. 6

Carlos Luis Rivera (Vocals, Timbales/Bongos); Paco Rivera (Congas/Hand Perc.); Paul Grainger (Bs Gtr); Alan Law (Piano)
(Review by Teresa Driscoll).
It’s a weekday night, this quirky city centre venue is full to bursting, all seats and floor space taken... and the manager’s having to turn people away. The audience members - mostly students - listen and watch reverentially.  No, not a scene from a 1960s folk revival concert – it’s a Havana Club 5 gig in Durham, part of the monthly jazz night programme at Empty Shop.
Our evening of Latin and Afro Cuban music is led by front man Carlos who entertains with his spirited percussion, strong vocals, dancing, audience engagement, and humour “On percussion we have mi primo, Paco Rivera; on bass, we have el señor......Paul, and on piano, el señor.... el señor... Alan”. You had to be there.
The band kicks off with a number called Carlito’s Way (by Carlos), followed by the steadier El Cantante and moving on with Vacilon, Vivar and Mandinga. There were excellent solos from all the band members who have very different styles and energy, but complement each other well.
Set 2 starts with a dramatic version of jazz standard Afro Blue. Percussion instruments from Paco’s store are handed out (along with verbal instructions) to around half a dozen audience members, the rest of us are clapping along and you know what? It sounds amazing, it's fun, we felt part of the music.
El Cuarto de Tula – a Cuban ‘son’ made famous by the Buena Vista Social Club. Paco and Carlos on percussion, Paul on bass and Alan on piano are a strong team and make a brilliant job of this one (with more superb solos).... if there had been any floor space there would have been lots more dancing.
We’re then treated to an energetic version of Canteloupe Island (resisting the temptation to call out “funky funky” as in U3’s Cantaloop). Next comes Tristeza and we da-da along with the familiar tune. For the lively Con Que the audience sing phrases back at Carlos while the band holds it together brilliantly.
As the last number comes to an end and things wind up for the night, there is a palpable disappointment in the air....come back to Durham soon Havana Club 5!
Teresa D.

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