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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17985(and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 306 of them this year alone and, so far, 62 this month (April 26).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 27: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Paul Susans, Russ Morgan.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: JustKing Jones @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.50. JustKing Jones (alto sax, soprano sax); Jordan Williams (piano); Jason Clotter (bass); Malcolm Charles (drums). Ace NYC outfit!
Sun 27: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 27: Swing Manouche @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00. Tickets from 01665 711388.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Ken Marley, Russ Morgan.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: International Jazz Day @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £16.00.; £14.00. adv.. Feat. Guido Spannocchi, John Pope & Steve Hanley + Take it to the Bridge participants + Open Mic Night participants.

MAY 2025

Thu 01: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Member’s Contribution.
Thu 01: Alabaster de Plume @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 01: Living in Shadows + OUTRI @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: The Shayo Experiment @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Shayo Oshodi & Liam Oliver.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ STACK, Seaburn. 4:30-6:15pm. Free.
Fri 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:00pm. £7.50. A ‘Nauta’s House’ gig featuring Nauta & guests Shayo Oshodi & David Gray.
Fri 02: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 02: Dom Pipkin @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Solo piano.
Fri 02: Abbie Finn Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00. + bf.

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 16, 2014

Roy Willis in Hong Kong - The Truth!

Hi all, I just want to tell you a little about my visit to Hong Kong .
Colin [Aitchison] and his wife Jeannie were wonderful hosts during my visit to HK. He was adamant that I didn't miss any important HK sight. There can’t have been many places he didn't show me - particularly the best music venues. Believe you me, Colin is very well known by very many HK musicians as well as being the band fixer for various venues around town.
Jeannie made sure I sampled  all types of HK's finest food - gave me a lot of background to the city and how to get around. How Colin fits all of his activities in I have no idea!. As well as managing all of this - and playing through the daytime he then goes down to Ned's and blows up a storm until the early hours of the morning!! He’s a whirlwind! 
For those who met Franco from Ned's band last summer, you will be glad to hear that he is planning to return with Colin this year and I suspect there may be a few more visitors from HK to the UK next summer. One particular person I hope to meet again is ex-pat Mr Neville Sarony. I know that our audiences here will appreciate his cultured piano style and very English humour should we be lucky enough to hear him perform.
The Filipino boys in Ned's house band were very kind to me - even to the point of Aqui allowing me to use his guitar for a few sit-ins. I enjoyed that experience immensely - as well as my sit in with the big band which meets every 4 or 5 months. The big band appearance at Ned's is one of the highlights of the year. They play superbly well. This isn't just a blast - these guys pay special attention to the dynamics of each piece. So professional. Needless to say Ned Kelly's Last Stand is always pretty much full of punters and last weekend it was packed to the rafters with a very appreciative crowd. So this place is a "must" to visit
I would also like to mention my visit to the very "old colonial" style hotel The Peninsular. Here we were entertained by certainly one of the best showmen that I have seen or heard. Mr Tony Payne sings, entertains and plays the piano in a superb jazz style. He is American with an International reputation and has worked worldwide, particularly in Las Vegas. Should you decide to visit, don't miss him.
So I have now returned home, have had 12 hrs sleep - and am still tired, but all I can say is that visiting Hong Kong had been an ambition for years and it was well fulfilled - thanks to Colin, Jeannie the rest of the amazing people I met. (also thanks to my wife ) for accepting my indulgence!
Roy W.

2 comments :

Russell said...

Hi Roy

What was the beer like?

Roy said...

Beer ? Well of course I only had one or two, (ha) but it was fantastic ! The Chinese beer was good, but Russell, you can get whatever brand you like over there. So don't worry. Even Guinness drinkers are catered for.

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