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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 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. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! 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.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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

Jazz Café Jam Session - Dec. 1

Pete Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Russ Morgan (dms) + Bradley Johnston (gtr); Michael Lamb (tpt); Eric Stutt (dms); Rob Bates (dms); Alec Saxon (alt); George Anyfantis (pno); Paul Gowland (alt); Duncan Walker (ten).
(Review by Lance).
The city is enshrouded with smoke, the aftermath of a massive blaze nearby, earlier in the day. It's also smokin', in jazz terminology, inside the Jazz Café.
The trio opens with Scarborough Fair and the parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme is surely burnt to a cinder! Someday My Prince Will Come; Stella by Starlight (impressive drum solo using brushes, hands and elbows!) and On the Sunny Side of the Street (spot on bass solo) follows and the room begins to fill and why shouldn't it?
Bradley Johnston takes to the stage as does the trumpet playing leader of the Strictly Smokin' Big Band, Michael Lamb. Eric Stutt, who just happens to have sticks and cymbals at the ready, adjusts the kit and they take flight on There is no Greater Love. Doxy and then Bernie's Tune. This is the moment where it all ignites! Trumpet, guitar, piano, bass, drums light the blue touchpaper and it's game well and truly on!
Rob Bates moves on to the kit and Alec Saxon wields the alto. Wayne Shorter's Footprints the victim.
Cantaloupe Island features some yackety saxing from Saxon.
George Anyfantis plays All of Me and Bradley counters with All the Things You Are.
And so the night unfolds...
Paul Gowland blows Au Privave and, naturally, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. Duncan Walker, last seen wearing a soprano sax reappears in tenor garb. What is This Thing Called Love? and Four takes things up to my Metro departure time which is a shame as Gowland's about to return to the fray but my carriage is nigh so I miss what may well have been the number of the night!
The jam session returns on December 15 whilst on December 8 it's the long awaited return of the DB Project.
Lance

5 comments :

Eric McKenzie Stutt (on F/b) said...

It was a Great Night! Cookin'!!

Patti D. said...

Yes - blazin' hot, while we're talking of heated matters - a great night indeed. Pity I had to leave early too! We love you madly, Jazz Café!

Paul Gowland (on F/b) said...

Ha Ha it was actually 'chasin the train ', with me putting in 'Au Privave' at the end! ��

Lance said...

Caught one train (trane?) missed another! That's life!

Pam Young (on f/b) said...

Yeah brilliant night thanks guys

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