Bebop Spoken There

John Donegan: ''What you take in through your ears can come out through your fingers.'' (Notes to Which Direction October, 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

19,041 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 905 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 26) 84.

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

October.

Tue 27: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. guest Julija Jacenaite.
Tue 27: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).

Wed 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 28: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 28: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 29: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 29: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 29: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 29: Radio Pensacola Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Featuring guest Jan Spencelayh.
Thu 29: Simon Taylor Band @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. £8.00.
Thu 29: King Bees @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 31: Saltburn Big Band + Durham Alumni Big Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Sat 31: East Coast Swing Band @ Cramlington Village Club, Park View, Cramlington NE23 6QJ. 7:30pm. £10.00. (from venue).

November

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Donna Hewitt (tenor sax, clarinet)
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Sarah Heneghan Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Wednesday, July 08, 2015

Jam Session @ The Jazz Café - July 7.

Alan Law (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Paul Wight (dms); Bradley Johnston (gtr) + Paul Gowland (alt); Stu Finden (ten); Fiona Finden (sop/vcl); Dave Parker (bs); Tom Lapworth (gtr); Francesco Falconi (pno); Eric Stutt, Matt MacKellar, Rob Bates (dms); Joe Fowler (tmb/vcl); Minnie Fraser (vcl) etc.
(Review by Lance).
There is no Greater Love - if Alan Law never plays a better solo than this his living will have not been in vain - and this was but the opening number! The Lawman was on fire tonight - Cuban Fire I suspect!
Bradley Johnston, inspired by his visit to Le Festival Django Reinhardt de Samois (tee shirt to prove it), lit a few beacons himself. Unsurprisingly, Nuages being one of them!
Paul Gowland took centre stage for Confirmation - crisp brushwork from Wight - and Autumn in New York.
A contingent from the Jazz Coop dropped by and soon Dave Parker was on bass, a change of pianist (no name given - George, see comment,) and Minnie on mic. Song for my Father was the chosen opus but, sadly, the mic volume was too low too enable Min to be heard above the band and the conversation from the bottom end of the bar.
The Findens took over with Eric Stutt on drums and Fiona, unfortunately, also fought a losing battle with the sound system.
And so the night rolled on Falconi, Lapworth and an endless stream of drummers came and went. Joe Fowler finally conquered the mic with a blues blasting belter on Ramsey Lewis's The In Crowd. Both singing and sliding, the Bossman was on form.
Dawn Furness and Ian Forbes were standing in the wings but it was time for me to be one of the 'Out Crowd' so I missed the finale to another jolly jam at the JayCee.
Lance
PS: More photos.

1 comment :

Minnie said...

The nameless pianist is George Any who now plays with the Blue Jazz Sextet.

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