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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

18037 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 458 of them this year alone and, so far, 36 this month (June 11).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free. Concert performance (open to the public)..
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00. CANCELLED!

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: David Gray's Flextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’.
Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

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

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Strictly Soakin’ Big Band @ The Tyne Bar. August 20

(Review by Russell).
Summertime down by the Ouseburn. You can bet your bottom dollar the weather will be ‘interesting’. Michael Lamb’s roaring big band played its annual outdoor gig at the Tyne Bar and, as sure as Glenn Miller is missing, the good old British weather turned-up right on cue. Clothes pegs at the ready, the Maling Street wind tunnel would surely do its best.
Make that ‘worst’. Rain, of the torrential variety, arrived ahead of the band. A raincoat, a beanie, a baseball cap…and that was the band! The audience? It would take more than an unseasonal downpour of Noah’s Flood proportions to keep them away. Wind, rain, beer, and a fantastic big band, your typical Saturday afternoon down by the river.
The band started on time. What? Yes, the Tyne Bar’s advertised start time of three thirty meant what it said, no doubt catching some on the hop. Two dozen rain-soaked tunes and a typically stoic Geordie audience loved  every minute of the Strictly Soakin’ Big Band’s two sets ranging from St Louis Blues to Hallelujah I Love Her So. F’reez shared the vocal duties with Alice Grace. F’reez…an appropriate name on a day such as this! Our man did see the funny side of things singing: Sunny and On a Clear Day being two of his features. And a togged-up Alice Grace told us she was Too Darn Hot. Yes, the one-time National Youth Jazz Orchestra star sang with the band. You Make Me Feel So Young, Time After Time, a rollicking Route 66 (a rock n’ roll James Peacock), Ms Grace sang superbly, and the crowd showed its appreciation. Star quality is star quality.   

The band roared defiantly in the face of the weather gods. The trumpet section fired; Pete Tanton’s supporting solos to vocalist Grace, the depping Dave Hignett blowing away rain clouds, with MD Michael Lamb going for it. Steve Summers (alto, soprano & bedraggled  hat – Pork Pie?) grabbed  the lion’s share of the solos, Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar) played impressively and depping piano player, James Peacock, threatened to steal the show.

A summer holidays’ mix and match trombone section did a grand job, as did the bass and drums boys Michael Whent and Guy Swinton. The engine room partnership is never less than spot-on and this Tyne Bar gig was no different. The band, the material, the glorious weather (not), the Strictly Soakin’ Big Band (a one-off name change!) – what better way to spend a summer Saturday afternoon? 

The Strictly Smokin’ Big Band’s next gig with guest Hailey Tuck is at Hoochie Coochie on Sunday 18 September. It’s another late afternoon start, make sure you’re on time. The  doors open at four o’clock, first set at five. This will be a first opportunity to hear up and coming American singer Ms Tuck in Newcastle. It promises to be quite an occasion.                           
Russell.
Strictly Smokin’ Big Band: trumpets: Michael Lamb (MD), Pete Tanton, Dave Hignett, Stephen Wilkinson; trombones: David Barnes, Chris Kurgi-Smith, Robert 'Pez' Perry, Sarah Bolt; tenor saxophone: Jamie Toms, Alan Marshall; alto & soprano saxophones: Steve Summers; alto saxophone:  Mercedes Phillips; baritone saxophone: Alan Thompson (?); guitar: Pawel Jedrzejewski; keyboards: James Peacock; bass: Michael Whent; drums: Guy Swinton; vocals: Alice Grace & F’reez.

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