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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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

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, November 16, 2015

Keith Stephen’s Hot Club Trio with Caroline Irwin @ The Black Bull, Blaydon – Nov 15

Keith Stephen (guitar), Roly Veitch (guitar & vocals), Bruce Rollo (double bass) & Caroline Irwin (vocals & ukulele)
(Review by Russell).
Friends of Blaydon Jazz Club for many a year, Keith Stephen’s Hot Club Trio made a welcome return to the Black Bull. Club regulars made the effort on a surprisingly mild evening for the time of year. The undemonstrative Stephen spoke reluctantly. Caroline Irwin – his other half – cajoled him into making announcements, which he duly did. An unsung guitarist and fine exponent of the Hot Club idiom, Stephen led his trio through two sets of classic material with several vocal numbers from the ‘lovely Caroline’.
Coquette opened the show. Caroline Irwin joined the boys to sing four numbers; Exactly Like You, Dream a Little Dream, Goody Goody and I’m Confessin’. Ms Irwin is an entertainer. She sings well and you get a performance. Flirtatious, Gatsby-era theatricality enlivens the show with the trio’s musicianship clearly evident to those with eyes and ears – a sensory delight.
Rhythm king Roly Veitch took the occasional vocal, the first of the evening being All of Me in typical relaxed fashion. The saucy Ms Irwin did much hoofin’ around on Let’s Talk Dirty in Hawaiian. With ukulele in hand the lyrics passed/passed by the censors, the only thing missing was an Aloha-style garland of flowers!
The undoubted first set highlight was a tremendous take on Limehouse Blues; a Stephen’s solo followed by an energetic contribution from slap bass maestro Bruce Rollo had Black Bull patrons imagining they were in a dimly lit pre-war Parisian night club. Django lives! At its conclusion Stephen enquired: Silly tempo, who set up that one? The culprit lurked in the shadows…one Mr R. Veitch. Hand wringing stuff!
Django’s Swing ’42 resumed hostilities. Irwin intervened with I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby and later on Veitch atoned with a well tempered vocal on Shine. Ms Irwin sang some numbers in French – La Vie en Rose being a fine example of her craft. A good evening’s entertainment concluded with an exhausting Running Wild. Athlete Irwin went for it, running on the spot, running wild.
December at Blaydon Jazz Club features not one but two sessions. Sunday 6th is an extra date presenting the New Century Ragtime Orchestra. The ensemble, perhaps unique in its presentation of the syncopated sounds predating the classic jazz era, will delight its many followers and those hearing the band for the first time will become instant fans. The week before Christmas – Sunday 20th – is party time. The BB Trio with guest Dr James Birkett will provide the musical entertainment and, by tradition, audience members take along an appetising culinary contribution. Savouries and sweets (many home made), always make for a feast sufficient to feed the five thousand.
Russell.                     

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