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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.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

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. 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.

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 20, 2016

Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Hoochie Coochie - June 19

(Review by Lance)
It's been a week for big bands - CHBB; DUBB; TVBB. It's also been a good week for singers - Ruth Lambert;; Clare Teal and three helpings of Alice Grace. Yesterday afternoon/early evening saw the best of both worlds - Lindsay Hannon and the oddly named F'reez with SSBB at Hoochie Coochie. Surprisingly, the room wasn't packed to capacity - had 'the beautiful game' struck again? Nevertheless, the crowd that was there (in a smaller venue it would have been wall to wall sardines) showed their appreciation to the full after three great sets.
Impossible to list every number - there were at least 25 - in fact, such was the standard, equally impossible to pick  just one above the rest.
In the absence of Paul Gowland, Jamie Toms and Dave Kerridge took the tenor solos and they both performed with great aplomb. Steve Summers and Keith Robinson seared on alto with the former also featured on soprano and the latter on flute. Even Laurie Rangecroft got in on the act with some gutsy baritone.
Pete Tanton AKA 'The Everywhere Man' continued his fine form from the night before with Alter Ego and Leader Lamb also pressed the right valves - Robinson acted as 'Straw Boss' during the leader's solos.
The rhythm section would have done justice to Basie as indeed they did in Basically Blues with Graham Don featured.
Lindsay, as always brings her own bread to the table and I doubt if anyone, anywhere has sung That Old Black Magic better than Lindsay did yesterday!
Not to be outdone F'reez also reached the Higher Ground with his take on the Stevie Wonder classic as well taking us to The Sands in Las Vegas for the Sinatra/Basie version of Fly Me to the Moon - as if we weren't already there!
Apologies for not mentioning each and everyone such as the trombones (who took the solos?), Pawel's guitar solos and the solid partnership 'twixt Whent and Swinton.
They're back at Hoochie in September with a special guest ...
Photos.
Lance.
Steve Summers, Keith Robinson (alt); Dave Kerridge , Jamie Toms (ten); Laurie Rangecroft (bar); Gordon Marshall, Michael Lamb (MD), Pete Tanton, Dick Stacey (tpt); Mark Ferris, Kieran Parnaby, Robert Perry, Chris Gurgi-Smith (tmb); Graham Don (pno); Pawel Jedrzejewski (gtr); Michael Whent (bs); Guy Swinton (dms); Lindsay Hannon & F'reez (vocals).

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