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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

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: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
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.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 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.

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, December 21, 2015

Jazz in the Afternoon Xmas Party - Crescent Club, Cullercoats - Dec. 21


Derek Fleck (ten/clt); Brian Chester (keys/tmb); John Hallam (bs/sousa); Ollie Rillands (dms/vcl) + Miles Watson (tpt/vcl); John Broddle (vcl); Teresa Armstrong (vcl); Roy Gibson (keys).
(Review by Lance).
And so the Christmas party season rolls on. Today it was the turn of the Crescent Club at Cullercoats to deal out the delicious delicacies. Sausage rolls, nibbles on sticks, open sandwiches, some unidentified objects - the mystery adding to the sense of adventure without detracting from the taste - and, if this wasn't enough, there was also real ale at £2 a pint and a raffle with 15 prizes.
Oh yes, there was music too!
Jazz!
In the afternoon!
Shangri-la.
JITA have held down the Monday lunchtime slot here for quite a number of years, and, despite the aging audience, the numbers don't appear to have dropped.
Derek Fleck, when he wasn't sleeping, blew some great mainstream tenor and clarinet. It's Only a Paper Moon and Wabash Blues being a couple of early gems. Miles Watson got into the spirit of things with Jingle Bells.
Ollie sang Green Door and the dancers took to the floor. Jazz me Blues from Derek before John Broddle gave out with Winter Wonderland and Lazy River. The set finished with more Ollie on Route 66 and The More I See You.
Raffle time - with 15 prizes, surely I couldn't lose?
I lost!
Friends old and new to catch up with. Gordon Solomon, former trombonist and leader of the River City Jazzmen being in the former category whilst in the latter, I met Sheila, wife of the late saxophone player Stan Slate. Stan played pro in many big bands during the 'Archer St. years'. Anyone recall him?
The second set opened with Teresa singing That Old Feeling, Mean to Me and I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams. Teresa, I swear, sounds even better as she, how can I put this?, gets less younger - and not an ipod or lyric sheet in sight!
An almighty sousaphone had been, like the Sword of Damocles, ominously lurking at the side of the stage throughout the afternoon. Now it sprung into action, curled around John Hallam's body like an overfed boa constrictor, aided and abetted by Chester the piano man who'd become Chester the trombone man and Miles, now wearing a bowler hat and singing Dinah.
Jollity prevailed.
John Broddle threw himself back into the fray for I'll See You in my Dreams (a bit early at 3pm - except for Derek!) including, the verse! I think this must have been the first time I'd heard anyone sing the verse - Bravo John. There'll be Some Changes Made had a "One more one time" coda squared!
Then it was metro time. As I left John was singing Let's Dance and several people were!
Very enjoyable.
Lance.

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