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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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, December 31, 2014

CDs of 2014

I receive so many CDs for review picking out one above all the rest is impossible so next year I hope to pick out a CD and a gig of the month which will narrow the field somewhat. Readers are, of course, invited to make their submissions although I won’t be holding my breath!
Anyhow, here we go (Alphabetical):
·       Annie Ross To Lady with Love. A CD and DVD featuring Annie Ross in tribute to Billie Holiday. The voice may be but a shadow of itself but the emotional content is unbeatable. With John and Bucky Pizzarelli.
·        Basin Street Brawlers It’s Tight Like That. A party style Dixieland band full of fun popular in and around London. Worth hearing them further north.
·   Big ChiefBlues in Twos. Previously unissued tracks by legendary blues band featuring Dick Heckstall-Smith.
·       Chris Ingham Quartet Hoagy. Pianist/vocalist Ingham pays tribute to Hoagy Carmichael with some Bixian overtones from Paul Higgs and recent North east arrival Russ Morgan on drums.
·       Count Basie and his Orchestra Original Album Series. A 5 CD set of classic Basie albums make this the reissue of the year.
·       Hank Marvin Django’s Castle. An unlikely entry but Marvin proves he’s no mere “shadow” of the legendary Django.
      Hansu-Tori - An Improvised Escape. A late arrival but well worth waiting for.
·        Johanna Graham Quartet Don’t Let Me Be Lonely. Debut album by a new singer (to me that is). Received rave reviews from her launch at Pizza Express.
·      New Century Ragtime Orchestra Singin’ in the Bathtub. Tyneside’s unique take on 1920s/30s big band music.
·        Paul Edis SextetMr Hipster. I  haven’t actually heard the CD but I’ve heard the sextet live enough times and read other reviews to know that it will justify inclusion.
·       Scottish National Jazz Orchestra Culloden Moor Suite. Bobby Wellins composed and is featured on this stand out disc.
·      Scottish National Jazz Orchestra American Adventure. SNJO in America with guests such as Kurt Elling, Randy Brecker, Mike Stern and many others.
·   The Lindsay Hannon PlusThe Spy. Imaginative interpretations of standards, originals and contemporary classics.
·        Tim Kliphuis TrioThe Grappelli Album. Kliphuis pays homage to the other driving force of The Hot Club.
·     Tommaso Starace Quartet Italian Short Stories. An exciting and at times evocative musical portrait of an Italian photographer.
·       Tommy Smith and Brian Kellock Whispering of the Stars. Tremendous duo album by two superb players.
     Vance Thompson's Five Plus Six - Such Sweet Thunder. An offbeat, yet still swinging tribute To Duke, Monk and Dolly Parton!
·      Vasilis Xenopoulos The Wind Machine. “Vasi” has impressed us live on many occasions and this re-working of some big band classics is a classic in its own right.
Apologies to those artists whose discs I haven't included many of which are also deserved of mention.
Lance.

1 comment :

Lindsay said...

Delighted to have our two most recent SNJO CDs listed as well as Tommy Smith / Brian Kellock album - wonderful!! Now here's to 2015 and our 20th anniversary celebrations with some special concerts

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