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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

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.

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.

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

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Swing Manouche @ Gala Theatre, Durham. June 17.

Mick Shoulder, guitar, Giles Strong, guitar, Neil Harland, bass and Paul Edis, clarinet.
(Review/photos courtesy of Jerry)
When, after the opening bars of All of Me, the musicians went up a gear and applied manouche swing to the Marks/Simon standard, the 100 strong audience at the Gala began a rhythmical journey enabling them, for an hour at least, to escape from referenda, grey skies, and relentlessly bad news.
The nicely melodic Veish A No Drom followed, then the slow, gentle rhythms of Cigano Bolero, a Mick Shoulder original (the first of five) featuring a twangy guitar solo from Giles Strong for whom it was written. I’ll See You in My Dreams had feet stomping again but even it failed to match the kamikaze pace of Lulu Reinhardt’s Noto Swing which followed soon after. 51 Swing, the second Shoulder original of the set, swung more gently with a fine clarinet solo and even Melancholic Mick’s Nuits Solitaires was infectiously rhythmical.
Valse a Gonzo, Shoulder’s improvised pacifier for Giles Strong’s Alsatian (Gonzo) soothed the audience likewise. In Bossa for Zoe (a new tune to me) our composer made amends to Strong’s wife for having written songs for Giles and the dog but not for her. I hope she liked it as much as we did! Coquette was suitably skittish and quirky and was followed by “a traditional gypsy finish” – Minor Swing.
Accessible, uplifting music, brilliantly performed by four top musicians. Truly an hour well spent.
There are five more Gala concerts lined up this year – well worth keeping an eye out for.
Jerry.
Photos.

2 comments :

Alison Duncan said...

Thanks to Brian, we made it to see Mick Shoulder's Swing Manouche. It was a great hour of music! Thoroughly enjoyed their music and hope they will return soon.

Steven T. said...

Anyone who hasn't read my full Alice Grace review (available free on this very site), only one thing to add: fourth instrument! fourth instrument! The senior Edis is a little more forthright in praising his little pianist when there isn't a pen or keyboard around to implicate him, and he forgets I'm a BSH spy.

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