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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

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: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
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.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 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 @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

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. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

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...

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