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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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

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.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).POSTPONED UNTIL JUNE

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. 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, December 19, 2015

Double Hat Trick for Summers - Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Black Swan Arts Centre, Newcastle. Day One - Dec. 18

(Review by Lance/photos courtesy of Ken Drew).
The SSBB's Christmas session at the Black Swan Arts Centre is now so much a 'must have ticket' event that, this year, they extended it to two nights and still the tickets flew. Given the time of year it wasn't surprising that there was much Christmas Fayre on the musical menu but, rather than take away the sound of surprise for tonight's audience I won't give away the set list secrets save to say that some were predictable and some certainly weren't!
Lead alto Steve Summers, sporting a hat as distinctive as Lester Young's pork pie titfer, feared leader Lamb wouldn't countenance the wearing of such an outré object beyond the first bar let alone the first set! However, the spirit of Christmas was in evidence and the hat remained atop the good doctor's head for the complete session! It certainly didn't effect his playing, in particular the alto joust with Keith Robinson on one seasonal journey.
Steve was also involved in the opening tear up with Gowland and Toms - truly a triumvirate of majestic men from the east (a clue to the tune!)
Lamb and Tanton took care of the trumpet solos whilst Parnaby handled the trombone chores with much aplomb. 
Pawel featured prominently and Don, Whent and Swinton also had memorable moments.
Lindsay and F'reez struggled to be heard in their opening numbers but eventually the balance evened out and they were, as always, in good voice.
Maybe next year it will be 3 nights!
Lance.
Michael Lamb (tpt/flug/md); Pete Tanton, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey (tpt/flug); Kieran Parnaby, John Flood, Mark Ferris, David Barnes (tmb); Steve Summers, Keith Robinson, Paul Gowland, Jamie Toms, Laurie Rangecroft (reeds); Graham Don (pno); Michael Whent (bs); Pawel Jedrzejewski (gtr); Guy Swinton (dms/mc); Lindsay Hannon, F'reez (vcls).

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