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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED PERMANENTLY!
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: King Bees @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Superb blues band.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

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.

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

Thursday, April 07, 2016

RIP Jazz Esquires

One of the longer running bands on Tyneside has folded up its music stands for the final time. The Jazz Esquires decided to call it a day after their last session at the Magnesia Bank, North Shields. Trumpet player and singer Miles Watson cited a dwindling, and an aging audience for the decision.
The Esquires began life at the Wheatsheaf pub in New York, North Tyneside although it wasn't until they moved to the Porthole near North Shields Ferry Landing and trumpet player, the late Joe McMullen, took over that the Jazz Esquires name was taken up.
The above sketch shows some of the players from those very early days
The trumpet player is Hughie Aitchison, the late father of 'Our Man in Hong Kong' Colin, clarinettist Munro Sutherland, guitarist, Eric Gamblin, bassist Derek Dixon, The drummer may be Mike Yorke. The pianist Bob? and trombonist Len ? I can't put surnames to - help needed. Nor do I know the name of the artist.
In the picture, Eric Delaney can be seen sitting in with the later edition (l-r): Roy Gibson, Tony Winder, Doug Fielder, Stan Nicholson, Eric Delaney, Miles Watson, Ray Walker, Laurie Brown.
Good solid swingmen who neither looked back or looked forward but stayed with the mainstream.
Always entertaining.
Lance.

4 comments :

David Hannant said...

Hi Lance,

My name is David Hannant - I'm a reporter based in Newcastle. Having spotted your blog I'm interested in running a piece about the Jazz Esquires calling it a day.

I don't suppose you have any contact details for anybody from the band who would like to talk about their career?

If you'd like to add a few words about them as a fan, I would also be really happy to talk to you.

Would you be able to ping me an email please? It's david.hannant@gmail.com

All the best,
David

carstairs said...

Trombone is Lennie Samson who moved to the Channel Islands; piano Bob Coulson; drummer is Mike Yorke.
I used to dep for Derek Dixon, indeed I bought my old bass from him and he the spent the next 15 years trying to buy it back! That old bass had a fascinating history, having been liberated from the Opera House in Algiers during WW2 by Frank Harriot.
George Evans was a frequent visitor, immaculate in silver- grey slacks and blazer. He would ask " I wonder whether you gentlemen would mind if I joined you for a few numbers?"

John Taylor said...

Yes the drummer is Mike Yorke, originally from Ashington. He played drums for my friends 21st at The Esplanade in Whitley Bay some 49 years ago. (Ronnie Macs band with Hugh A on tpt and John Pearce on tpt/piano. I got a lift with Mike that night in his "Z cars" Ford Zephyr. Mick went on to play with Dick Straughan's band.

laurie brown said...

I proudly took over The Jazz Esquires from Joe McMullen
after sitting in on drums on many occasions. The days at
the Porthole were heady with numerous sitters in
vying to play and an audience which crammed the place to
capacity! The closing of the Porthole was really the
begining of the end. Many many thanks to all the musicians who played with us over the years some sadly no longer with us and also the audience whose support
encouraged us.
Laurie Brown

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