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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

1803759 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 480 of them this year alone and, so far, 58 this month (June 18).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sat 21: Jason Holcomb Jazz Ensemble @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 5:30-7:30pm. Free. A 'Sunderland Year of Music' event.
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.

Thu 26: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Brass Instruments & the use of mutes.

Fri 27: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Time After Time’.

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

Friday, September 02, 2016

New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival August 27













(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Gordon Carlton)
Let us pray! The first words of Steve Andrews introducing the New Century Ragtime Orchestra in the hallowed surroundings of Ushaw College. Andrews’ one-liners came thick and fast, although on this engagement the band’s MC was pressed into action in
the reed section, occupying the chair usually reserved for Gavin Lee, resulting in an impressive display of  multi-tasking combining comic asides with first rate playing.
Gavin Lee, renowned clarinettist and saxophonist, assumed the drum chair, the band’s regular percussionist being unavailable for this concert date. Lee began playing jazz as Brian Carrick’s drummer, and now, after a number of years, he was to act as drum dep. The indications were good: a minimalist’s set-up of bass drum, snare and two cymbals. Piano duties were put the way of Paul Edis. One could be forgiven for thinking he had little else to do! Dr Edis donned a fetching white bow tie…
 King Oliver towers over the early years of the so-called ‘classic jazz era’. And so it was that the ensemble began with Too Bad, recorded by Oliver’s Dixie Syncopators. I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby introduced vocalist Caroline Irwin and she stayed on to sing I’m Through with Love. Not to be outdone, Jim McBriarty, affectionately known as the band’s boy singer asked the question: What do we do on a Dew, Dew, Dewy Day? Cole Porter’s Let’s Do It, Dorothy Fields/Jimmy McHugh’s Doin’ the Low Down and a rather nice rendition, in French, sung by Irwin, of  J’attendrai were three of many great numbers played during two sets. Steve Andrews featured on the Jean Goldkette hit I’m Gonna Meet My Sweetie Now playing alto, either side of a string of witty observations, some of which poked fun, albeit gently, at some of his band mates.                    
 The New Century got down to playing some serious jazz on Ellington’s Black and Tan Fantasy. Andrews alluded to Bubber Miley and Arthur Whetsol in introducing Graham Hardy’s growling, plungered mute, trumpet part. The Northern Monkey did just fine, as did Ed Cross (violin), Edis, and Andrews himself playing clarinet. Patrol Wagon Blues produced more fine jazz as Hardy (trumpet), and McBriarty (vocals and arrangement),   took on a classic number. Steve Andrews reminded the audience of Henry ‘Red’ Allen’s fondness for the tune, so, no pressure on Messrs Hardy and McBriarty! The boys ‘done good’. MC Andrews picked up his tenor for some spirited playing on a rousing finale: Limehouse Blues. The New Century Ragtime Orchestra, to coin a phrase, should be on everyone’s ‘bucket list’. A unique ensemble doing invaluable work under the dedicated direction of band leader Dave Kerr, make a point of hearing the band.    
Footnote. MC Steve Andrews declared: Paul Edis is as significant as it gets [on the jazz scene] in the northeast.
Russell.
Steve Andrews (MC, tenor & alto saxophones, clarinet), Jim McBriarty (alto saxophone, clarinet & vocals), Alan Marshall (tenor & alto saxophones, clarinet), Graham Hardy (trumpet), Alistair Lord (trumpet); Neville Hartley (trombone); Ed Cross (violin); Keith Stephen (guitar & banjo); Paul Edis (piano); Phil Rutherford (sousaphone); Gavin Lee (drums) & Caroline Irwin (vocals)



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