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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.
Tue 18: Phil Bancroft’s Beautiful Storm @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20 & £11.00.. A JNE-Gem Arts co-promotion.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. 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, September 12, 2016

Emma Fisk's Hot Club du Nord @ Prohibition Bar, Gateshead – September 10.

Emma Fisk (violin) James Birkett and David Harris (guitars) Bruce Rollo (Bass).
(Review by Steve T).
We're big fans of Ms Fisk and Dr B and I’d like to think we've grown from groupies to mates over many years, FDT and HDT getting odd lessons on guitar and fiddle respectively. So, my apologies to Bradley and the Globe - our original destination - and doubly so cos James confirmed he'd have been there also.
The Prohibition bar, peeing distance from Sage Gateshead, is new to me and a terrific venue for some old style Jazz and I'll be amazed if they're not back there soon.
It turned out it was a private party for one David Green, leaving Gateshead College, which they decided to open up to the public and number one wife and I were delighted they did.
An evocative setting with the staff and some party-goers dressed in period, we were transported back to the speakeasies of 1920s Chicago, but without the machine guns.
The band, in tux and posh frock (Emma only), were crammed onto a tiny stage which looked amazing, with the violin and bass stood behind the two sitting guitarists, but was tricky for Emma, though fortunately James and David both have their own hair or her more frantic fiddling moments may have been the cause of some embarrassment.   
The audience, fluctuating around thirty, chatted throughout, oblivious they weren't supposed to, but this only added 'authenticity' to the atmosphere. We applauded enthusiastically, clapped along to Dark Eyes, and some danced, and some of them did a pretty impressive Charleston.
The band were great, as always, David Harris, one of the original guitarists from Djangology (note the spelling), settling back in nicely. I know he's a big deal in Country circles, but a fine Gypsy guitarist too, seeming to take a bigger share of solos than I remember from their debut at Blaydon. Bruce Rollo is a new name to me, but never put a finger or thumb wrong, some terrific slapping going on too.
An earlier than scheduled (in BSH) start and some technical difficulties meant we didn't catch or know all the titles, though Mrs T is getting more useful at this as I become less, but we got: Someone Like You, Sweet Georgia Brown, Minor Swing, Dinah, Lady be Good with a new (to me) coda and, as always, peaking with Emma closing Nuages with her customary perfect timing, beauty and splendour. If we could bottle it, we’d hand it out at cinemas to those soaking up the latest instalment of, what George called Beatle lore, to wash up from straight, white US of A.
The remainder of the night promised hard drink and loose morals but we'd apparently forgotten Mrs Ts' driving shoes so we headed back, though I'm hopeful we'll make a return visit soon The Budtet are playing jazz standards on Friday, Sept. 23 and Big Muddy are making a return visit a week earlier on Sept. 16. The Prohibiton Bar looks like becoming a player!
Steve T  

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