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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

18043 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 364 of them this year alone and, so far, 42 this month (May 15).

From This Moment On ...

MAY 2025

Sun 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 18: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 18: Ruth Lambert & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 18: Steve Summers Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 19: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 19: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 20: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.
Tue 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Pleased to Meet You, Bridge St., Morpeth NE61 1ND. 8:00pm.

Wed 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 21: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public). b Wed 21: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 22: Nuevo Castillo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00.
Thu 22: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:30-9:15pm. Free.
Thu 22: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 23: Dean Stockdale Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. ‘Celebrating Oscar’.
Fri 23: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 23: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: Joe Steels Group @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. + £1.55. bf. A Northumberland Jazz Festival fringe event.
Fri 23: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 23: Gaz Hughes Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm.
Fri 23: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 8:00pm. £19.00.; £17.00. ‘Time After Time’.

Sat 24: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:15pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 24: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Bywell Hall, Stocksfield. 1:30pm. Northumberland County Show.
Sat 24: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 24: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm.
Sat 24: Dean Stockdale Quartet + Mingus Sings @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm. Admission: see website: www.queenshall.co.uk. Stockdale (piano); Tim Williams (guitar); Gavin Barras (double bass); Gaz Hughes (drums) + Mingus Sings: Sara Oschlag (vocals); Alan Barnes (reeds); Tim Lapthorn (piano); Arnie Somogyi (double bass); Clark Tracey (drums). A Northumberland Jazz Festival event.
Sat 24: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 24: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sat 24: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £3.00. + bf.
Sat 24: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. 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

Saturday, January 10, 2015

R.I.P. Billy Mordue


(Obituary by Lance).
Sad to hear of the death of drummer Billy Mordue who passed away yesterday (Jan. 9) aged 86.
Billy played with the legendary George Evans Orchestra at Newcastle's Oxford Galleries during the 1950s then later, after leaving the Oxford, at the Blue Parrot (now the Potter's Wheel) in Sunniside. The Blue Parrot, one of the first out of town nightspots in the north east, featured the Ken Maddison Trio (Maddison on piano, Eric Dobbing on bass and, of course, Billy on drums along with singer Ethna Campbell) and were very highly regarded.
After that he joined the George Ricco Quartet (pictured) at the Cavendish Club in Newcastle. In the photo Billy is far left along with Eric Dobbing (bass); Charlie Smith (guitar) and, sitting, pianist George Richardson ("Ricco").
In 1984 he was reunited with George Evans who reformed his band for his (Evans) 70th birthday with a dance at the Mayfair Ballroom and a concert at the People's Theatre.
The Peoples gig had ten saxes, ten brass, four rhythm and two vocalists and included Tommy Whittle, Roy Williams, Stan Coates, Alan Rudd, vocalists Ivy Barnes and Johnny Moran and most of the other top guys of the time (Syd Warren, Arthur Mowatt, Mike Gilby etc.) The Carol Kidd Trio were also on the bill. I was fortunate enough to be in the audience and it was truly a memorable occasion - not least because of Billy Mordue's drumming.
When the above photo appeared on BSH in November 2012 Malcolm, Billy's son in law, informed us that Billy was in the late stages of Alzheimers but that good music still got his feet tapping!
In the photo on the right Billy Mordue is in the centre of the picture taken at the Mayfair in 1984. (names).
He will be sadly missed.
Lance.
PS: Funeral details will be posted when available.

6 comments :

Tom Render (on F/b) said...

Very sad - Billy played for me at the Tyne Theatre along with George Richardson for a production of Bugsy Malone. Lovely bloke.

Malcolm said...

Hello Lance. Billy's funeral service is to be held at Mountsett Crematorium, Dipton at 3:30pm on Tuesday 20th January. Friends are very welcome.

Lance said...

Thanks Malcolm - he deserves a good turn out.

Carol said...

Sad to hear about Billy. I remember that night very well, such a pleasure to be there.
My thoughts are with his family,
Much Love,
Carol---x

Unknown said...

Nice piece on Billy, only one correction. The photo should read Eric Dobbing on Bass.

Lance said...

Thanks to unknown for that correction - now corrected.

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