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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.

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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!

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 30, 2015

The Glenn Miller Orchestra (Ray McVay, MD) @ Sage Gateshead – Dec 29

(Review by Russell).
The UK Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Ray McVay returned to Sage Gateshead to play a sold out matinee show. All 1700 seats occupied a matter of days after Christmas was a sure sign of the band’s popularity and, of course, the enduring popularity of their raison d’êtré – Major Glenn Miller.
The tunes, largely associated with Miller, together with a smattering of other numbers, were instantly recognisable, such was, and is, the popular entertainment status of Miller. Caribbean Clipper, I Got a Gal in Kalamazoo, Jumpin’ at the Woodside, number after number, the audience knew them all. The focal point of the performance shifted from a vocalist to a vocalist, to a vocal troupe to a dance troupe. Catherine Sykes, a graduate of Leeds College of Music, shared the spotlight with veteran Colin Anthony. Sykes sang All of Me, Anthony A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square. Class performers fronting a big band, they vacated the stage returning from time to time to sing some more favourites.
The Uptown Hall Gang, the band within a band originally created by Mel Powell after Miller's disappearance, played some small group swing, sang a tune or two, and the Jiving Lindy Hoppers bounced onto the stage to inject some vim and pep to proceedings. They had the jive, Jack, and they gave the boys in the band an opportunity to have a blow.    
American Patrol – this was the AAF stuff – and Minnie the Moocher (Alan Berlyn blew trumpet out front), then String of Pearls, then When Johnny Comes Marchin’ Home. The realisation that this was a genuine ‘greatest hits’ affair struck home. MD Ray McVay – a Miller enthusiast if ever there was one – frequently introduced numbers with ‘Another million selling number…’ Second set, more of the same, and no one was complaining! St Louis Blues March, Chattanooga Choo Choo (featuring the Moonlight Serenaders), then some jazz, yes jazz, with Jersey Bounce and the excellent dance steps of the Jiving Lindy Hoppers.
Moonlight Serenade…cheers rang to the echo (‘Aye, when I was a lad…’). And then for something completely different…Colin Anthony paid tribute to Sinatra. Ah, this was an unexpected bonus. A medley comprising classic 50s material (Come Fly with Me) and a great take on New York, New York (perhaps not Ol’ Blue Eyes’ favourite) heard McVay’s band at its best behind the saloon bar vocal ‘These little town blues…
There was more. Pennsylvania 65000 (inevitably), then Runnin’ Wild with guess who? The Jiving Lindy Hoppers, of course! Two and a half hours of music, Sage Gateshead’s audience went home happy, very happy. In the Mood sent them on their way. So, an entertaining afternoon, a trip down memory lane for those who were there first time around, and, for the jazz heads, an education.        
Russell
Ray McVay (MD), Colin Anthony (vocals), Catherine Sykes (vocals), Andy Potts (alto saxophone), Simon Meredith (alto saxophone), Martin Dunsdon (tenor saxophone), Dan Faulkner (tenor saxophone), Loren Hignell (baritone & alto saxophone), Dave Ford (trumpet), Alan Berlyn (trumpet), Danny Hammerton (trumpet), John Hinch (trumpet), Dale Gibson Jnr (trombone), Ray Wordsworth (trombone), Cliff Hardie (trombone), Bruce Douglas (bass trombone), Bunny Thompson (piano), Paul Scott (double bass) & Bobby Cleall (drums); the Moonlight Serenaders; Uptown Hall Gang & the Jiving Lindy Hoppers

1 comment :

Liz said...

times like this when I wish I lived up there, good review Russell

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