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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. CANCELLED! 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

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

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Millstone. Nov 24

(Review by Russell/photo from BSH archive).
The last one of the year. The Strictly Smokin’ Big Band’s monthly open rehearsal night saw one or two deps in, perhaps the regulars were Christmas shopping or maybe stranded at a distant Metro station thanks to day-long delays on Tyne and Wear’s so-called ‘rapid’ transit system. Audience numbers were down slightly making available a couple of seats.
Vocalist F’reez sang about seeing on a clear day and walking his baby back home. Alice Grace sang about being too darn hot. Benny Golson’s Whisper Not heard several roaring solos courtesy of Messrs Paul Gowland, Michael Lamb, Jamie Toms and Steve Summers. The band ran through a Bill Holman arrangement of Stevie Wonder as prep for their next gig. The session was very much ‘workshop’ rather than ‘polished concert performance’.

Occasions such as this give a fascinating insight into the workings of a big band.
Steve Summers toted alto, soprano and flute, taking the honours on Horace Silver’s Sister Sadie. One wonders which is Dr Summers’ first instrument? Horace Silver wouldn’t have hesitated to hire him on any of them! The Strictly Smokin’ have a busy gig diary over the next few weeks: December 14th @ Sage Gateshead in support of the BMus Jazz, Popular and Commercial Music course; December 16th and 17th @ The Black Swan (tickets have been selling like hot cakes, a few left for Friday, very few left for Saturday 17th); a post-Christmas blow out @ Hoochie Coochie, Thursday 29th and a New Year’s Eve bash over at Prohibition Bar on Brandling Street, Gateshead.            
The Strictly Smokin’ Big Band’s monthly session at the Millstone, South Gosforth (seven o’clock, free admission) resumes Thursday January 26, 2017. Do get along, the real ales are tip top and you’ll be supporting the grass roots of the music.
Russell.    
Strictly Smokin’ Big Band: trumpets: Michael Lamb MD, Pete Tanton, Tom Hill, Dick Stacey; trombones: ?, Mark Ferris, John Flood, Keith Norris; Paul Gowland (tenor), Jamie Toms (tenor), Steve Summers (alto, soprano, flute), Keith Robinson (alto), Laurie Rangecroft (baritone), Mick Wright (guitar), Michael Whent (bass), Alan ? (drums); vocals: Alice Grace & F’reez


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