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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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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