Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 2026)

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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

From This Moment On

May

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Jordan Jackson @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.80 (inc. bf); £15.40 (inc. bf).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Jazz Classics with Rivkala @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Rivkala (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Thu 21: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 22: Paul Skerritt @ Market Place, Durham. From 12 noon. Free. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Fri 22: Paul Edis Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00. Edis, Andy Champion, Steve Hanley.
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 22: Paul Edis Trio @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £TBC. Edis, Andy Champion, Steve Hanley.

Sat 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Bywell Hall. 2:00pm. Northumberland County Show.
Sat 23: Paul Edis @ Core Music, Gilesgate, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00. A Core Music fundraiser, Hexham Jazz Weekender Day/Weekend ticket not applicable. Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sat 23: Blyth Big Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 6:30pm. £9.00., £5.00.
Sat 23: Paul Edis & Friends @ Musicwonders, Church Chare, Chester-le-Street. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £15.00. www.musicwonders.org. BYOB. SOLD OUT!
Sat 23: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Queen’s Hall Hexham. 7:00pm. £13.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sat 23: TC & the Groove Family + Lagos to Longbenton @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sat 23: Davina & the Vagabonds @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £22.00. + £1.50 bf.
Sat 23: Celebrating Wes Montgomery @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 8:15pm. £14.00., £12.00. Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sat 23: Chris Coull’s Porgy & Bess @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 9:30pm. £16.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender.

Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 24: SwanNek @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £11.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sun 24: Salty Dog @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free. Donations.
Sun 24: Ben Crosland’s Threeway @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm. £13.50 (inc. bf). Line-up inc. Steve Waterman. Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sun 24: Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Street Brass Band Bonanza: The Fanfare + Storytellers + Tenth Avenue Band @ The Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £10.00., £8.00.
Sun 24: Charlie Parr @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50. Blues. Jumpin’ Hot Club.
Sun 24: Olly Styles Experience @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.
Sun 24: Finn-Keeble Group @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 8:15pm. £13.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender. Feat. Jamil Sheriff.
Sun 24: Modern Vikings @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 9:30pm. £16.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender.

Mon 25: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 26: Noel Dennis Sextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00. A Miles Davis centenary concert (Davis b. 26. 5. 1926). Noel Dennis (trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums). SOLD OUT!
Tue 26: Lagos to Longbenton @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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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