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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

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).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. CANCELLED! 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.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

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

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

Gateshead Welcomes Glenn Miller

(Preview by Russell)
The spirit of Glenn Miller is set to reverberate around Sage One (Sage Gateshead’s 1700 seats concert hall) during the forthcoming festive period. On Tuesday 29 December Ray McVay will lead Britain’s leading Miller outfit in a matinee concert performance which will feature many of the classic numbers associated with the legendary AAF Band. Post-Christmas and pre-New Year, Tynesiders will be champing at the bit in danger of going stir crazy. Tickets are going fast, so, to be sure of your seat, call the ticket office on 0191 443 4661.
Ray McVay goes back to the days of rock ‘n’ roll. He worked with Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Brian ‘The Shadows’ Bennett, Clive Powell (aka Georgie Fame) and countless others. Theatre and television work, a long association with the Mecca organisation, Ray McVay is your genuine ‘been there, done that’ character. A life-long fan of Glenn Miller, McVay approached Glenn Miller Productions Inc in America seeking their agreement to permit the establishment of a British band to play the Miller charts. McVay won approval and set about taking Miller’s music on the road.
The classic line-up of five saxophones, four trumpets, four trombones, piano, bass, drums and two vocalists have filled concert halls time and again, year after year. The band’s two principal singers – Colin Anthony and Catherine Sykes – are joined on stage by the vocal harmony troupe the Moonlight Serenaders. Add the Jiving Lindy Hoppers to the mix and you have a fast-paced show packed with familiar tunes. The orchestra’s collective talents are too numerous to mention save for a few: Colin Anthony (BBC Big Band), Catherine Sykes (Leeds College of Music, Dave Newton), Dave Ford, lead trumpet (Portishead – a modern combo!), Simon Meredith, alto and clarinet (MYJO and NYJO), Loren Hignett, baritone and alto saxophones (BBC Big Band), Ray Wordsworth, tenor (Humph and Alex Welsh, Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme – a tidy cv), Bunny Thompson, piano (Art Farmer, Sonny Stitt, Sammy Davis Jnr – not too shabby).
So, Miller’s music has stood the test of time and withstood brickbats from some. What’s not in doubt is the ability within the ranks of Ray McVay’s Glenn Miller Orchestra. For a guaranteed great afternoon make sure you’re at Sage Gateshead on Tuesday 29 December for a three o’clock start. Telephone the ticket office now – 0191 443 4661.        
Russell.

1 comment :

Liz said...

you are so fortunate to have the Sage and these wonderful shows to enjoy...well why not? North East deserves the best....

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