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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ 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, August 16, 2015

Strictly Smokin' Little Big Soul Band at Tyne Bar - August 15.


(Review by Lance).
The sun was shining, the breeze little more than a cooling zephyr, the products of Wylam Brewery were being consumed so enthusiastically that a queue stretching almost to the banks of the Ouseburn was formed.
On stage, the Strictly Smokin' Little Big Soul Band (their chosen name for today according to the set list) were warming up for this, their fourth annual gig in this pleasant outdoor venue, and possibly the first where they elements haven't prevailed.
Michael Lamb gave the down beat and F'reez made an impassioned vocal plea to Let the Good Times Roll and roll they did! The band were in cracking form behind the vocals and Freez himself was on a roll following up with the Stevie Wonder arrangement of Sir DukeLindsay enchanted us, as ever, with That Old Black Magic which had me in her spell before getting her kicks on Route 66.
A Kentonian arrangement of A Foggy Day preceded Lindsay's return for Makin' Whoopee. Down front and on the road the dancers too were makin' whoopee - Lindyhopping, foxtrotting and just generally shaking it about.
A world - well Newcastle - premier of Chris Walden's Film Noir Suite was evocative of just about any noir film you've ever seen and this was but Part One of Three. We eagerly await the rest. Keiran Parnaby's soulful trombone solo stood out here as did a biting alto solo from Dave Kerridge.
Time to rejoin the queue at the bar which, by this time had stretched almost to Gateshead (exaggeration!) Also nice to meet Bob and Sally.
You Snooze You Loose kicked off round two with a bare knuckle slugfest 'twixt Summers and Kerridge who locked horns in a bout that went the distance - honours even. More Parnaby in Frankie, Johnny and a Trombone Guy. F'reez returned for The Way You Look Tonight and Lindsay was Beginning to See the Light. There was more, too much more to list all the highlights but one that did deserve special mention was Sax Alley. Summers switched to tenor for a joust with Toms and Gowland. If you thought the earlier alto workout was something this was the Thriller in Manilla and the Rumble in the Jungle combined.
Breathtaking.
Special mention of Colin Haikney depping on piano, he did the business, as he invariably does, whilst leader Lamb and section mate Tanton had some cracking solos.
Oh yes and guitar bass and drums were right on the money, the latter enhancing his presence with his wry announcements.
As Stan Kenton shouted at the end of his recording of Prologue - "This is an orchestra!"
And so is this!
Catch them again at Hoochie on Sept. 20.
Lance.
Photos.
Michael Lamb (tpt/md); Dave Holman, Dick Stacey, Pete Tanton, Gordon Marshall (tpt); Keiran Parnaby, Mark Ferris, John Day, David Gray (tmb); Steve Summers (alt/ten/sop), Dave Kerridge (alt); Paul Gowland, Jamie Toms (ten); Laurie Rangecroft (bar); Colin Haikney (pno); Pawel Jedrejewski (gtr); Michael Whent (bs); Guy Swinton (dms/compere); Lindsay Hannon, F'reez (vcls).

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