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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

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.

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.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, December 12, 2016

Budtet @ Prohibition Bar, Gateshead - December 11

Jude Murphy (vocals, alto sax, flute); Fiona Finden (vocals, soprano sax); Stu Finden (tenor sax); Lin Lee (piano); Jim Crinson (double bass); Eric Stutt (drums) Dave Weisser (cornet).
(Review by Lance).
My first visit to the Prohibition Bar - a converted railway arch within staggering distance of Sage Gateshead - saw the Jazz Messengers inspired Budtet preaching to the converted - work to be done there. Fortunately, those pilgrims who did take the road to Damascus or, to be more precise, Brandling St. certainly got The Message in the opening number. A fast bebop groove with solos all round and scintillating fours 'twixt tenor and drums. 
A relatively unchanged programme from their last gig - why change a winning team? - didn't in any way lessen the enjoyment. Being Christmas, the obligatory seasonal song was included which, tonight, was Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. I doubt if you'll hear a better version than Jude Murphy's - in fact, you probably have to be called Jude or Judy to do the song justice. Jude did it justice. Apart from singing the words and the tune, her facial expressions add a third dimension to the delivery. Throw in some alto and flute (Corcovado) and you have the complete package.
Not that Jude was the only singer-saxophonist aboard. Fiona Finden of the curved soprano sang I Fall in Love Too Easily, Corcovado, All Blues, the challenging Ellington piece, Sound of Love and an original lyric based on Wes Montgomery's Four on Six.
Instrumentals included Moanin' and This I Dig of You. Jude also sang Teaneck, Walk Between the Raindrops and Days of Wine and Roses. I closed my eyes and I was hearing Anita O'Day.
Apart from Fiona and Jude, the Pretty Section, as Ellington used to say when he wasn't loving you madly, also included Lin Lee who once again stunned any chauvinists present with her piano playing. A star in the making.
The male half of the sextet, needless to say, weren't to be outdone with some fine Finden tenor, dynamic drumming from Eric and Jim Crinson ticking all the right boxes on double bass.
Then, just when we thought it was safe to leave, up jumps Dave Weisser armed with cornet and microphone.
Yardbird Suite and Take the A Train, the former had the horns performing as a vocal group and the latter a reminder that there were trains above us although I didn't notice them - this A Train was good enough for me.
Next Sunday, Dave and Jude are back at the Prohibition Bar with Big Muddy.
Lance.
PS: As I awaited the arrival of the number 27 I heard a couple who'd also been at the gig talking. "People should have been queuing down the street to get in!" said the man. "Agreed" replied the woman, as they occasionally do.

2 comments :

Steve T said...

Looks like I picked the wrong weekend to go under the camera.

Jude Murphy (on F/b) said...

Really nice review, thanks Lance - good to see you and Russell there last night

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