Total Pageviews

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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

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

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Tenth Anniversary Bash @ Sage Gateshead. Dec. 17


(Report by Lance)
Talk about a party? This was a party! OMG just so much happening! We know that when Sage Gateshead throws a party it's going to be the best thing ever outside of Buckingham Palace and the White House. In fact the only thing that shaded it for London 2012 was that Roz Rigby didn't arrive by helicopter with 007 - where was Eddie Bellis when you needed him?
Apart from that, Sage Gateshead has never had quite a night like this! Jugglers, Gymnasts, Acrobats, Unicyclist, the ISIS window cleaners (this was when we felt we felt we really needed James Bond!). The steel pans, the percussionists producing the most amazing rhythms from the staircase rails.
The poignant moment when the sombre music accompanied the spotlight on Clarence Adoo - this party wouldn't have meant anything if he hadn't been there.
Singing Happy Birthday on this the building's tenth anniversary.
And of course the hospitality in the Green Room...
Hall One: Hawthorn Primary Symphony Orchestra.
A primary school orchestra playing Vivaldi! A school in Elswick! C'mon Jesmond and Gosforth, you've got some catching up to do!
The tears were rolling down my cheeks - that's right, me, the hardboiled jazzer who goes down the mean streets of the city in search of music, sentimentalised by these kids from a deprived area playing, and obviously enjoying, music.
Back in the 60's the slogan was 'Make Love Not War', maybe we can add 'Make Music Not War''
Meanwhile, down on the Concourse, Jambone (pictured) were flying the jazz flag. Graham Hardy was fronting for Paul Edis who was pantomiming although his presence was felt in the form of his compositions.
The band were great and, with the presence of alumni Bradley Johnston on guitar to inspire them, the young soloists told the world "Move over John Coltrane, tell Miles Davis the news" - well maybe...
Back to Hall One and the Sinfonia's  Work in Progress by Jonathan Dove and Phillip Shotton.
I was uneasy about this - maybe it was me but I found the audio/video presentation at least initially confusing..
The screen above the stage flashed images of Sage Gateshead being built - 3 images at a time. The orchestra were playing which, at least for me, meant I struggled to connect images and music.
However, when it all finally did come together it was magnificent!
The Sinfonia sawing away like woodchoppers, and behind them, Jambone, the voices, the folkies, the panners and the hearts of everyone listening.
As I said, this was quite a party.
Many of the gigs overlapped and some ran on after my time to leave - sadly I missed the Hilliard Quartet - but, it had been a long day.
Let's not say here's to the next ten years - let's say here's to forever!
Lance
PS: And, like all good parties, the icing on any birthday cake is meeting people and discovering those who are on the same wavelength...

No comments :

Blog Archive