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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17822(and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 143 of them this year alone and, so far, 68 this month (Feb.25).

From This Moment On ...

February 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: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
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: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 5:15pm or 5:45pm (times tbc). Part of the Alnwick Story Festival's music fringe programme: Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Joseph O’Brien: The Ultimate Tribute to Frank Sinatra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. O’Brien & seven piece band (inc. Wendy Kirkland, Jim Corry & Pat Sprakes).
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 02: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £10.00. Day 3/3.
Sun 02: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 02: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free (donations).
Sun 02: Side Café Orkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Derwentwater Road, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Milne Glendinning Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 6:30pm.
Sun 02: Bella by Barlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 02: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Spittal Bowling Club, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Ali Watson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 03: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 04: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. Tel: 0191 237 3697. 12:30pm. £8.00. ‘Jazz ‘n’ Pancakes’.
Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 04: 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 07, 2015

New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ The Black Bull – Dec 6

(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Roly.)
In the first of two concerts during December at the Black Bull the New Century Ragtime Orchestra made its Blaydon Jazz Club debut. Any fears that Dave Kerr’s outfit would be too big to fit onto the compact stage were quickly dispelled. NCRO music stands skirted front of stage, musicians cheek by jowl, either side of Steve Doyle’s weather-beaten bass drum. Vocalist Caroline Irwin sat off stage, periodically taking to the floor in front of the band to sing a selection of songs. Master of ceremonies Steve Andrews likewise opted to sit with a pint listening to his band mates, rising to regale the audience with his scholarly – and frequently hilarious – observations of the classic jazz era, its composers, musicians and larger than life characters.
Sweet Jennie Lee and A Ragtime Dance confirmed keys, valves and fingers were in good order and Caroline Irwin likewise confirmed her vocal chords were up to it (lubricated by a glass of Deuchar’s) singing a brace of tunes including Am I Blue? Neville Hartley made his trombone presence known on a number associated with the Fletcher Henderson band – the wonderfully titled What-Cha-Call-‘Em Blues.
A 1903 number (early period for the New Century, some nineteenth century material is in the book) Belle of the Philippines composed by Fred F Stone had Andrews wondering out loud…What did the initial F stand for? Diligent research by Kerr and the boys solved the mystery. It couldn’t be anything other than ‘Flint’! A two-trumpet feature for the bearded Graham Hardy and the clean shaven Alistair Lord – Paddlin’ Madelin’ Home – with the band’s ‘boy’ vocalist Jim McBriarty in the spotlight, met with audience approval.
Twenty-something pianist Ian Wynne took centre-stage (for reasons of on-stage logistics he remained exactly where he was) with a piano solo feature on James P Johnson’s Mule Walk Stomp. The Black Bull crowd loved it. Quite right, too!
Second set highlights were many. A hot take on The Terror (Cliff Jackson and his Crazy Cats circa 1930) upped the ante and Ms Irwin responded with I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby and the arresting Get Out and Get Under the Moon (Graham Hardy with a fine muted contribution). The band’s latest recording – Singing in the Bathtub – was all but certain to get a mention (it did, more than once, yours for a tenner) and Mr McBriarty duly sang the eponymous number. Ellington’s Black Beauty heard the muted Hardy and plungered Hartley. The oddly titled Crazy Quilt exemplified the band’s collective talents – across all sections – in making light of yet another exacting arrangement.
MC Andrews sought to make comparison between a hirsute Graham Hardy and Henry Red Allen. The bearded Hardy doesn’t physically resemble Allen, doesn’t speak with an American accent…Andrews was struggling, the audience laughing. Perhaps best to let a fine trumpet player do the talking, musically speaking (with one verse from vocalist Jim McBriarty), on Patrol Wagon Blues. Mark it down as the highlight of the evening.
The rhythm section – Keith Stephen, Phil Rutherford and Steve Doyle – (and band) sent us on our way with a rabble-rousing take on Limehouse Blues. Dave Kerr’s New Century Ragtime Orchestra is an amazing project, a labour of love for those involved. On leaving the Black Bull someone said the band, without a guest star, is the way to hear the band. A moot point, but well made. What made this gig work so well was the against-the-odds set up of a larger ensemble performing in a small space in close proximity to the audience. A return visit would be most welcome.
Blaydon Jazz Club’s Christmas party night – Sunday Dec 20th – is an annual occasion in the dairy of all Black Bull regulars. This year’s concert will feature the BB Trio – Jeremy McMurray, Roly Veitch and Neil Harland with special guest James Birkett. The music, of course, will be first rate and with an interval buffet to tuck into there couldn’t be a better way to end another year of great jazz at the Black Bull. It’s an eight o’clock start and feel free to bring a small culinary contribution to the buffet. 
Photos.             
Russell.
Steve Andrews (MC, tenor saxophone & clarinet),  Jim McBriarty (alto saxophone, clarinet & vocals), Alan Marshall (tenor & alto saxophones, clarinet), Gavin Lee (tenor saxophone & clarinet), Graham Hardy (trumpet), Alistair Lord (trumpet), Neville Hartley (trombone), Ed Cross (violin), Keith Stephen (guitar & banjo), Ian Wynne (piano), Phil Rutherford (sousaphone), Steve Doyle (drums) & Caroline Irwin (vocals)

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