Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 2026)

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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

From This Moment On

May

Mon 25: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 26: Noel Dennis Sextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00. A Miles Davis centenary concert (Davis b. 26. 5. 1926). Noel Dennis (trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums). SOLD OUT!
Tue 26: Lagos to Longbenton @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Miles Davis & His Favourite Musicians.
Thu 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 28: Bobby Rush @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. + bf. Veteran USA bluesman.
Thu 28: Squabble @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 28: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.

Sat 30: Giles Strong Quartet @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £1.50 bf.

Sun 31: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 31: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 31: Sinfonia of London: Tea Dance @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. Free. John Wilson ensemble performing on the concourse. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin & more.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 31: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 31: Ben Haskins Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

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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