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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17972 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 293 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (April 22).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

Sat 26: Durham Alumni Big Band @ Number One Bar, Darlington. 12 noon. Free (donations).
Sat 26: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 26: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Elvet Methodist Church, Durham. 7:30pm. Tickets: £12.00. + bf. Duo performance.
Sat 26: Neil Cowley Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.50.
Sat 26: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 27: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Paul Susans, Russ Morgan.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: JustKing Jones @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.50. JustKing Jones (alto sax, soprano sax); Jordan Williams (piano); Jason Clotter (bass); Malcolm Charles (drums). Ace NYC outfit!
Sun 27: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 27: Swing Manouche @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00. Tickets from 01665 711388.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Ken Marley, Russ Morgan.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: ???

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, April 13, 2015

GIJF Day Two: Late Night Jam Session @ The Jazz Café

(Review by Russell/photos courtesy of Mike Tilley)
Gone midnight, exit Sage Gateshead, over the Swing Bridge, wandering through Dante’s Inferno (aka the Quayside/Central Station), heels, legs, swaying revellers, side-stepping a freshly deposited curry (Sunday morning’s pigeons’ breakfast) and on to the Jazz Café. A good night it was with Sue Ferris and Dean Stockdale reported Kay. ‘Hello Mike, is there a good crowd in upstairs?’ ‘Yes, a good few’ the reply. A bottle of Grainger Ale, up the stairs we go.
The jam session was in full swing. And it was swinging. Hey! That’s Francesco on piano, Russ Morgan at the kit, the uber-cool Paul Susans laying it down and Mr Mark Williams perched on a stool to one side. Out front, newcomer Alice Grace sang. Word gets around. The vocalist made an impression at Friday night’s jam session at the Globe and here she was again. More sitters-in than one could remember without a hastily scribbled list…the long-time-no-see Sarah Travena turned-up to play soprano, Paul Gowland, a bottle of his favourite Banana Beer at hand, on alto. Talk about ‘long-time-no-see’, Ben Gilbert joined in, Yuya Honami was in the house, Pete Gilligan was around somewhere and house band drummer Tim Johnston was taking five. Caff regulars (some worse for wear), a few jazz heads, one or two new faces, don’t these people have homes to go to?
All the Things You Are, In a Sentimental Mood (Gowland terrific), then a real treat. Stu the Rapper did his thing on The Chicken (Yuya on drums, Susans funkin’, Gowland on the money). Oh, yes. Lindsay was in town. Gilligan back at the keys, he called one last number. Brief discussion, they settled on Straight No Chaser. Veronica Lake (aka Ms L Hannon) invited Alice Grace to join her on the stand. Ms Grace sang and scatted. Wow! A star is born! Grace is in town on a short visit from Dubai. Her intention is to return to Tyneside on a more permanent basis in a couple of months or so. When she does, make it a priority to hear her sing. Gone 2:00am. Dante’s Inferno awaits…        
In no particular order (possibly omitting a name or two, apologies if that is the case), the cast list reads as follows: Peter Gilligan (piano), Paul Susans (double bass & bass), Tim Johnston (drums), Mark Williams (guitar), Paul Gowland (alto), Sarah Travena (soprano), Francesco Falcioni (piano), Ben Gilbert (piano), Russ Morgan (drums), Yuya Honami (drums), Stu the Rapper, Lindsay Hannon (vocals) & Alice Grace (vocals)         
Russell.

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