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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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
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.

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

Saturday, November 14, 2015

CD Review: National Youth Jazz Orchestra - NYJO FIFTY

A gem! Surely the big band album of the year! Over the years (50 of them!) NYJO has spawned a host of the UK's most outstanding jazz artists - four of them guest on this half-centennial celebration and they are walking/blowing adverts for their alma mater. However, we already know the skills of Rahman, Siegel, Nightingale and Lochrane and, whilst it's always good to hear then in whatever the setting, the ace in the hole here is in spotting the stars of the future and, take my word for it, there's a whole galaxy of them!
Sam Glaser's work out on A Foggy Day singles him out as an alto man to watch although fellow altoist Jim Gold makes him go the distance in their alto joust on Matt Wates' Never the Twain.
More musicuffs on Chris Smith's Going Dutch where Healey and Ridout lock tenors. I can't give a decision as I don't know who went first suffice to say that if it had been a fist fight there'd have been plenty blood around!
Neither of the trombone soloists top Nightingale's feature on Jerome Kern's Bill but, after hearing Dunnett and Dawson, he's probably looking over his shoulder!
Then there's Jessica Radcliffe! What a discovery! Finding My Feet, composed by NYJO's first md Bill Ashton OBE is one of those beautiful songs that bring to mind Alice Faye in a '30s Hollywood musical . It has that feel, but Jessica's voice and Paul Hart's arrangement aren't at all dated.
It's a double CD and space prevents me highlighting everything so, take my word, every track's a highlight!
It was released on Friday Nov. 13 on Whirlwind Recordings WR4679. (Samples).
Lance.
Mark Armstrong - Musical Director
Rosie Stano (flute), Jim Gold, Sam Glaser (alto sax, clarinet), David Healey, Tom Ridout (tenor sax, clarinet), Jessamy Holder (bari sax, flute, clarinet), Alex Chadwick (bari sax);
James Davison, Tom Dennis, James Copus, Tom Gardner, Alistair Martin, Matthew Yardley, Jake Labazzi  (trumpet, flugelhorn); Anna Drysdale, Eddie Morgan (French horn);
Tom Dunnett, Owen Dawson, Chris Valentine, Maddie Dowdeswell, Chris Saunders, Jasper Rose (trombone); James Buckle (bass trombone); Rupert Cox (piano); Rob Luft, Nick Fitch (guitar); Joe Downard (bass); David Dyson (drums); Max Mills (percussion); Jessica Radcliffe (voice).​
GUEST ARTISTS​
Zoe Rahman - piano (Red Squirrel); Julian Siegel - tenor sax (Mama Badgers); Mark Nightingale - trombone (Bill); Gareth Lockrane - flute (Rush Hour).

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