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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, February 10, 2016

Swing Manouche featuring Daniel John Martin @ the Jazz Café











Daniel John Martin (vln/vcl); Mick Shoulder (gtr); Giles Strong (gtr); Paul Edis (clt); Paul Susans (bs). (Review by Lance/Photo courtesy of Mike Tilley).
The room was crowded and justifiably so although one or two kept their coats and mufflers on! These days I think that Gipsy Jazz has taken over the role once occupied by Trad Jazz in the eye of the public inasmuch as it's foot tapping and not too demanding on the ear. Mick Shoulder's Swing Manouche. which developed from his equally appealing Djangologie, took on a new dimension last night with the addition of French violinist and occasional vocalist (and whistler) Daniel John Martin.
Martin is quite unique. Unlike most hot club fiddlers he doesn't follow the Grappelli route instead he's very much his own homme. If there are any outside influences, and I say if advisedly, then perhaps it's another Frenchman - Jean-Luc Ponty.
From the opening Coquette everything gelled with le  bon monsieur spiriting the Jazz Café away from Pink Lane to the Rue du Coq in Montmartre.
Bandleader bassist turned guitarist Shoulder opened up a few eyes, impressing all with his technique and his affinity to the idiom.
On bass tonight was Paul Susans depping for Neil Harland. As always, he did the business.
Caesar Swing gave way to Martin's first vocal - It Had to be You - then Strong was featured on a bolero, the full title of which escaped me. Giles too is a player, sliding seamlessly from rhythm to solo. Edis on clarinet, as opposed to piano, although in minimalist mode was no less effective and added to the overall tonal picture as did Martin's next trick - a unison chorus of whistling and pizzicato violin!
J'Attendrai brought a shriek of delight from Patti resulting in an invite from the stage for her to sing it - an invitation she declined!
Take Zee A Train and Minor Swing concluded the first set.
There was a buzz in the air during the interval. The kind of buzz you only get when the audience knows they are witnessing something special.
Activities got underway again with I'll See You in my Dreams. Nuages began with a violin introductory cadenza of Kreisler-like virtuosity before the quintet embarked on this most loved piece of the hot club repertoire.
All of Me, another vocal, included a violin/vocal scat chorus that somehow seemed to segue into a Bach fugue!
Giles took the lead on 51 Swing before the big finale on Dark Eyes.
It had been quite a night and, if you missed out, catch them tonight at Bishop Auckland Town Hall or Queen's Hall, Hexham, on Friday night (Details in top right hand column.)
Photos.
Lance.

2 comments :

Patti said...

What a great night!! And it would have been totally spoiled for everyone if I had tried singing .....

Liz said...

this is very much like the Gypsy Jazz evenings at the Victoria Vaults , here in York. Every other Wednesday...next one is 17th Feb...

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