Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

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

Monday, February 02, 2015

Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Red House Farm, Monkseaton. Feb 1

Peter Wright (trumpet) ,Paul Gowland (tenor saxophone), Lawrence McBriarty (trombone), Brian Bennett (banjo & vocals), Bill Colledge (bass) & Fred Thompson (drums & vocals) + John Broddle (vocals.)
(Review by Russell/photo by Kath.)
The timeless Vieux Carré Jazzmen (a significant milestone is reached in April – Bebop Spoken Here will have more on this nearer the time), have established a well-supported pub gig at the coast on the first Sunday in the month at the Red House Farm. A housing estate hostelry, the Vieux Carré’s Sunday evening audience is drawn from a dedicated, knowledgeable fan base and Monkseaton locals.
Four reasons to seek out the Red House Farm:1) Nice pub 2) Nice people 3) Decent beer 4) Good New Orleans/Dixeland jazz. Arriving at eight o’clock proved to be a very good move – the pub has a two for the price of one ‘happy hour’ between eight and nine. The barmaid said: ‘Would you like two pints?’ Silly question, really! A regular got his order in and lined them up on the table – all EIGHT of them! ‘Do as the natives do’, they say. Three trips to the bar before nine (3 x 2 = 6) seemed like a reasonable effort. One or two of the Vieux Carré also did their bit to help the ‘jazz economy.’
Fred Thompson sang On the Sunny Side of the Street with Peter Wright providing typical strong lead trumpet and tenor man Paul Gowland winning applause (as he did throughout the evening). New Orleans trombone specialist Lawrence McBriarty knocked-out his to be expected quality solo (the first of several) and the rhythm section worked away in the shadows (Brian Bennett, Bill Colledge and Fred Thompson). East Coast Trot then When You Wore a Tulip were second set highlights and John Broddle joined the band between one of several trips to the bar. The Vieux Carré Jazzmen’s March date (Sunday 1st) will once again feature Peter Wright. A post-gig pint with Paul Gowland led to the subject of one of the great alto players on the local scene – the late, great Nigel Stanger. If anyone who heard Stanger play would care to post a comment as to the man’s abilities, please do so. Mr Stanger was no mean Hammond player either!   
Russell

1 comment :

Brian said...

Thanks for that, Russell! Seems you really enjoyed your Sunday evening at the coast. Wainwright's or Cumberland? Both, maybe?
Hope you found your way home ok!

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