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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 12: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: King Bees @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.
Sun 12: Dave Bottomley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.
Sun 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Monday, June 27, 2016

Pat McMahon Trio @ The Tyne Bar. June 26

Pat McMahon (guitar & vocals), Ray Johns (keyboards) & Paul Wight (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Blues skies, sunshine. The Ouseburn waters low, ducks and swans meander on mudflats.
Moored boats, some tied-up since last century, a sorry state, they’re not going anywhere.
New build homes in a tranquil, waterside location, reserve your plot now. Yours for £££ Riverside Walk it’s called, and there’s a rather decent pub at the end of the street.
The Tyne Bar on Maling Street comes into its own on a day like this. Pub goers sit in the sun, some shelter from it in front of the outdoor stage. Yes, a Sunday afternoon gig at the Tyne Bar is the new Sunday lunch. Forget the kitchen drudgery and get down to the Tyne Bar to hear some blues, rocking blues or rockabilly, there’s always something to catch the ear.
Today Pat McMahon sang some songs. A rocking beat, swirling keys, the main man totes a Flying V. Nailing that rocking beat is Sid Wight. Yes, a familiar figure on the north east jazz scene, Sid or Paul – he answers to either – is nothing if not adaptable. On West Coast numbers PW is as good as any with brushes in hand, down at the Tyne Bar playing a rock heavy blues beat with sticks comes all too easy. Ray Johns has gigged with the big names yet is ready and willing to rattle the keys on a trio gig with Pat McMahon.
The beers were going down, the sun went in. The storm clouds gathered. McMahon opted to play his cherry red Gibson 335 on a Dion number to close out the first set. Your scribe decided to head for cover hoping to avoid what looked likely to be thunder and lightening before too long. Note to self: check out the Pat McMahon Trio at a pub gig (indoor) soon!     
Russell.  

1 comment :

Sid White (on F/b) said...

Didn't know you were their Russell thanks for a nice review .

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