Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 2026)

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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

From This Moment On

August

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

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: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Info wanted on St. Joseph's College Jazz Band - 1958.

(From Karl Crompton)
On my usual trip to the local charity shop, I have a good rummage through the boxes of vinyl.  It’s usually hit and miss when I go through the 7" box, especially when I haven’t got my glasses with me.
On this last visit I picked up a single as I didn’t recognise the label, and the weight of the single was unusually heavy.
On closer inspection, the label has a Morton Sound logo proudly straddling the Tyne Bridge and I think it must be acetate as it’s aluminium with a thin coating of nitrocellulose lacquer that has the sound groove, from the master tape, cut into it.
The band is The Joseph College Jazz Band 1958 -1959. 
The 3 tracks are A.  I Never Knew/B. St. Louis Blues and Sister Kate Blues
Band members are Bob Kennedy (Trombone); Ken Black (Cornet); John Burns (bjo); Denis Clark (bs) and Peter Fenwick (Drums).
It plays fair, a bit scratchy as you would expect but listenable.  The description of the tracks, songs and band members are hand written on both sides.  Also stamped on both sides in red is Copy of Customers Own Recording.
As it looks like a personal recording for the band members not for commercial distribution, this may be a long shot but, do you know any of the band members or have any way of getting in touch with past members of the band.  Also their family members might be interested in being re united with this little gem of music.
Karl Crompton
Leeds.
PS: St Joseph's College Dumfries is on the label.

2 comments :

Dave Kerr said...

I'm unfamiliar with the Joseph College Band I suspect that they came to Newcastle just to make the record or possibly one of the members was brought up locally and knew of the recording studio. I have several of the private records made at Morton Sounds in my collection all by local musicians it was the only way to record before cheap tape recorders.

Lance said...

Interesting to note the address as 12 Oxford St. I only remember them being in Carliol Square.

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