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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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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