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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

Friday, December 11, 2015

The Tyne Valley Big Band & Santa’s Shoppers @ Eldon Square – Dec 10

(Review by Russell/photo from 2013 gig)
The hordes were out in force with just two weeks to go before…before that day in the year that we ‘bah humbugs’ look forward to with a curry and a bottle of beer. Santa’s shoppers were snapping up everything in sight, much of it to be put in a cupboard and forgotten about. Meanwhile, in the real world – known as the ‘jazz world’ – the Tyne Valley Big Band set up shop on Chevvy Chase. A misnomer if ever there was one. An ugly shopping ‘mall’ shouldn’t be called Chevvy Chase, it shouldn’t be allowed, there should be a law against it. Whatever…
The TVBB, led by Dave Hignett, played some great big band tunes; Manteca, Mack the Knife, Minnie the Mooche and Joe Zawinul’s modern masterpiece Birdland. The hordes looked bemused, stopped and listened, some danced, one dude took to break dancing. A big band of twenty three (MD and trumpeter Hignett included) performed with bauble-busting enthusiasm. The band’s effervescent singer almost missed her cue on Sway. The antler-wearing Barbara Hignett had been spotted doing some last minute shopping in an adjacent branch of John Lewis! Shopping bags deposited, our vocalist strolled out front as if she’d been preparing in the (non existent) green room, took the mic and did the job! Boundless enthusiasm (expert use of triangle on Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther) is a key element to Barbara Hignett’s performance allied to a great soulful voice.
Inevitably Let it Snow, Winter Wonderland and Santa Baby made it onto the set list. Doc Severinson’s arrangement of In the Mood made the cut, as did Hayburner and Route 66. The Tyne Valley Big Band – a ten-strong saxophone section, four trombones, three hard-working trumpets and a four-piece rhythm section – is a talented, community-based band in the Tyne Valley, headquartered at Hexham. Catch one of their frequent public gigs as you’re guaranteed a great show. Stay tuned to Bebop Spoken Here for forthcoming dates.
Russell.

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