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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

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

Monday, September 21, 2015

Strictly Smokin' Big Band w. Anthony Strong @ Hoochie Coochie - September 20.


(Review by Lance)
What a weekend of singers! 
Alice Grace, in the audience tonight, basking in the glory of her stupendous gig at les jazz café on Friday. Paul Skerritt, one of our top swingmen and occasional frontline crooner with this band was also on hand to give a standing ovation to the man of the match Anthony Strong.
But, first things first.
Needless to say 'The Smokers' were on fire despite, or maybe because of, having a few deps in the line-up. They played the opening set which had vocals by Lindsay (her Daydream was something else) and Freez (It Had to be You/Way You Look Tonight), a tremendous take on Chico O'Farrell's Pianitis by Graham Don. Paul Gowland, Keith Robinson and Chris Kurgi-Smith also had 32 bars here and there.
The scene was set. Strong, a cool, light suited dude, took his place at the strategically placed centre stage piano and we were off down Broadway.
Whatever Lola Wants Lola Gets (from, if memory serves me right, The Pyjama Game) revealed the guest to be, not only a fine singer but no mean pianoman either. Luck be a Lady Tonight (Guys and Dolls) had an exceptional trumpet solo from leader Lamb. Pete Tanton shouldered the trumpet chores on Stevie Wonder's Higher Ground, Elvis Costello's Baby Plays Around was done just with the rhythm section and Stepping Out With my Baby had more stunning piano work to complement the vocal. Anthony informed us that this latter tune was the title of his latest CD. Throughout the evening the CD plugs reached the overkill stage and would perhaps be more effective if the references had been made more sparingly.
A minor quibble. 
No quibbles about his own Gambling Man Blues. With a Guy Madison lyric and a Paul Gowland tenor blast this was quite something. A rapid Cheek to Cheek brought the set to a close.
The crowded room applauded, the bar was stormed and still another set to go - Heaven, I'm in Heaven...
Recharged, They Can't Take That Away From me had some booting tenor from Jamie Toms. More Stevie Wonder with Overjoyed a couple with the rhythm section: Whole Lotta Shakin' à la Jerry Lee L, and another original - Learning to Unlove You.
That Kind of Guy (original); On a Clear Day; Too Darn Hot (Kiss me Kate) and, finally, Hallelujah I Just Love Her So brought the show to a close. Great singer, great band, great audience.
Photos.
Lance.
Anthony Strong (vcl/pno); Michael Lamb (tpt/md), Gordon Marshall, Pete Tanton, Dick Stacey (tpts); Chris Kurji-Smith;John Day, Tom Dowling, John Flood (tmbs); Steve Summers, Keith Robinson (alt), Paul Gowland, Jamie Toms (ten); Niall Armstrong (bar); Graham Don (pno); Giles Strong (gtr); Michael Whent (bs); Steve Wall (dms).
at

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