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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

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: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
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.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

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

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Durham Alumni Big Band with Al Wood @ Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival. August 27

 (Review by Russell).
The first jazz festival to be held in Durham’s Ushaw College couldn’t possibly omit the county’s finest big band from the programme. A Saturday afternoon slot in the magnificent surroundings of the circa 1808 Exhibition Hall attracted a large crowd eager to hear the award-winning band. An indication of the commitment of band members was that few deps were required on this August bank holiday weekend. Guest MD Al Wood was booked to work with the band and two star names were to sit-in.
An ensemble with exceptional soloists in the ranks, the Alumni presented a balanced set of tunes. Star tenor soloist Alex Baker featured on several numbers including Al Wood’s Over the Top with the band in fine form, and a magnificent Lady Day. Veteran trombone man Terry ‘Smokin’ Spitfire’ O’Hern grabbed a solo on I Love Paris and Ian Robinson’s flugelhorn solo on Black Orpheus (arr. Phil Steel) deservedly met with applause.

MD Wood took five leaving the Alumni to tackle James Hamilton’s Back on Your Heads with several soloists standing up – Baker (tenor), Jonny Dunn (trumpet), Steve McGarvie (another Smokin’ Spitfire!) blowing alto, and ’bone man O’Hern. The sections never fail to deliver the goods: the all-star trumpets led by young Tom Hill (grandfather Mick sat in the section to keep an eye on the young whippersnapper!), the ace trombones and a hard to beat reeds’ section, not forgetting the best big band rhythm section around - Edis, Amy Baker and Stephen Fletcher.

A bonus for the audience (and band) was an unannounced appearance of Alan Barnes and Bruce Adams. Arriving at Ushaw in good time the duo sat in on a couple of numbers with  the Alumni ahead of their advertised festival engagements. Barnes’ Side Steppin’  with A. Barnes on alto and Barnes and Bruce Adams playing I Love You set things up nicely for a rip-roaring Be-Bop Charlie featuring guests AB and BA and depping pianist (and festival director) Paul Edis, and typically rousing alto once more from McGarvie.
Al Wood, on alto, closed the show with Bernie’s Tune. Mr Wood is an institution in these parts. A life-long educator and first class multi-instrumentalist to boot, Wood has inspired countless young musicians, long may he continue to do so.          
Russell.
Al Wood (MD, alto & baritone saxophones); Alex Baker (tenor saxophone), Dan Johnson (tenor saxophone), Steve McGarvie (alto & soprano saxophones), Danielle Drew (alto saxophone), Omar Shade (baritone saxophone); Shaune Eland (trumpet), Jonny Dunn (trumpet), Tom Hill (trumpet), Ian Robinson (trumpet), Mick Hill (trumpet); Andrew Kirtley (trombone), Alastair Wood (trombone), Terry O’Hern (trombone), David Hamilton (bass trombone); Paul Edis (piano), Amy Baker (bass), Stephen Fletcher (drums) + Alan Barnes (alto saxophone) & Bruce Adams (trumpet & flugelhorn).
Band photo courtesy of John Marlor.
Alex Baker photo courtesy of Eric Robertson.
Al Wood photo courtesy of Gordon Carlton.

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