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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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

Sunday, April 05, 2015

New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ St. Augustine's Church Darlington - April 4

(Review by Ray)
Time for our monthly Darlington Jazz trip, today's artistes the 12 strong version of the NCRO - sadly lacking the vocals of Caroline through illness, but with Emma Fisk ably providing the beauty to complement the guys all smartly attired in Dinner Jackets & bow ties.
Having heard the newly released CD "Singing in the Bathtub", which is an excellent buy, we were keen to sample the live version again - NCRO are always hugely entertaining, playing 1920's & 1930's hot dance & swing jazz in authentic arrangements which have your feet tapping away. I'm not aware of any other band that plays in this style, so we are privileged to have them based here in the North East & to be able to enjoy their talents several times a year. 
The inimitable Steve Andrews as ever led the band, his patter reminiscent of Leonard Sachs on the "Good Old Days" TV hit show that ran from 1953 to 1983, his wit greatly appreciated by an attentive packed room, the groans rising in unison at each corny joke or comment but the smiles revealing the pleasure he gave us all.
To the music ...Sweet Jenny Lee set the tone, with an excellent Reindeer Rag reminding us Christmas was but 265 days away ...with the onset of Easter Eggs in stockings it’s easy to get confused! A Duke Ellington number next - The Black & Tan Fantasy followed by the ballad Guilty then back up tempo with Rent Party Blues. Jim serenaded us on That's my Weakness Now, then East St Louis Toodle Oo and Get Out & Get Under the Moon led us to the final number of the first set with Nagasaki.
Second set began with a King Oliver number Too Bad before Jim donned Fez & gave us Palestrina to applause. The 1928 Chocolate Dandies Padukah featured Gavin Lee on clarinet, then Jim back on vocals in Everybody Loves my Girl. Another Duke Ellington number The Mooche saw the trumpet players excel, with I'd Rather be Blue Thinking of You  taking us to the raffle & interval two.
An Easter Egg prize put a smile on my good lady’s lips, so all was well as a Jimmy Noone number Chicago Rhythm kicked on into King Oliver's 1923 hit Chatanooga Stomp. We felt a little blue with Blue Minor then I'm Dancing with Tears in my Eyes, then Emma & Keith combined with a melodic duo as Joe Venutti & Eddie Lang with Sunshine before Business in F and I'll See you in my Dreams gave way to the final number of Limehouse Blues.
All in all another fine afternoon at Darlington, & another packed house illustrated the growing recognition of the excellent Jazz they provide monthly.
Next up Sat 2 May is Jeff Barnhart & John Hallam with Keith Stephen & Bruce Rollo ....that should be another treat !
Ray
Graham Hardy, Alistair Lord (tpts); Neville Hartley (tmb); Jim McBriarty, Alan Marshall, Gavin Lee (reeds), Steve Andrews (compere/ ten  sax); Emma Fisk (vln); Colin Haikney (pno); Keith Stephens (bjo/gtr); Phil Rutherford (sousa); Steve Doyle (dms).  

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