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Bebop Spoken There

Danny Halperin: "Johnny Griffin is possibly the worst tenor saxophonist who has come to widespread public attention in the past decade." – (Jazz News, March 21, 1962).

Polly Gibbons: “If Billie [Holiday] had come up in the ’60s, she probably would have been a soul singer” – (Down Beat August 2017).

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Today Wednesday August 16

Afternoon
Vieux Carre Jazzmen - Crescent Club, 1 Hudleston, Cullercoats NE30 3OS. 1pm. Free.
Maine Street Jazzmen - Tynemouth Metro Station, Station Tce., Tynemouth NE30 4RE. 1pm. Free.
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Evening.
New Orleans Jazz at the Village Hall - Springwell Village Community Venue, Fell Rd., Gateshead NE9 7RP. 8:15pm. £3.
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Take it to the Bridge - The Globe, 11 Railway St., Newcastle NE4 7AD. £1. 8pm.
Billy's Acoustic Blues - Billy Bootleggers, 28 Nelson St., Newcastle NE1 5AN. 9pm. Free (weekly).
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Tees Hot Club - Cleveland Bay, 718 Yarm Rd., Eaglescliffe TS16 0JE. 9pm. Free.
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To the best of our knowledge, details of the above events are correct but may be subject to alteration.

Monday, July 06, 2015

Fred Rowe Retires

Last Wednesday, Fred Rowe retired from playing after an involvement that lasted 70 years. I think Fred’s now 86 but it was his car rather than his lip that let him down. MOT!
I went along to his last session at the Crescent Club and met one of Fred's oldest fans (still wearing the badge of the old Newcastle Rhythm Club!).
No change in Fred's playing, he played Alex Welsh style before Alex Welsh started! As usual, Fred's encyclopaedic knowledge came to the fore with such tunes as Straight From The Wood, coupled with wry introductions, vocals and his biting cornet. Typical Fred - except for the absence of the little chip of wood he used to drop on the floor and stomp off the numbers – nothings changed. Has he put it on eBay?
I have only known Fred for 40 years, playing alongside him in the Tyne Valley Stompers (in fact I think I might be the only one still playing). I'm sure I won't be the only one to be sorry he has stopped gigging - but I bet he won't put his cornet back in the box.
John Carstairs Hallam
at

2 comments :

  1. Sorry to here this Fred. Always loved your playing. Best wishes. Roly

    ReplyDelete

  2. One of the real nice guys of jazz, enjoy your retirement, Fred!

    ReplyDelete

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About this blog - contact details.

Bebop Spoken Here -- Here, being the north-east of England -- centred in the blues heartland of Newcastle and reaching down to the Tees Delta and looking upwards to the Land of the Kilt.
Not a very original title, I know; not even an accurate one as my taste, whilst centred around the music of Bird and Diz, extends in many directions and I listen to everything from King Oliver to Chick Corea and beyond. Not forgetting the Great American Songbook the contents of which has provided the inspiration for much great jazz and quality popular singing for round about a century.
The idea of this blog is for you to share your thoughts and pass on your comments on discs, gigs, jazz - music in general. If you've been to a gig/concert or heard a CD that knocked you sideways please share your views with us. Tell us about your favourites, your memories, your dislikes.
Lance (Who wishes it to be known that he is not responsible for postings other than his own and that he's not always responsible for them.)
Contact: lanceliddle@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you.

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