Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 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

19,086 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 950 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Nov. 7) 20.

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

November

Sun 08: Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel, West Allotment. 12 noon. Day 3/3.
Sun 08: ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 08: Kaberry Big Band @ Forest Hall Social Club. 3:00pm. £7.00 (inc. tea & cake). Charity event for the Poppy Appeal.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Bechet-Spanier Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00.; £5.00. Muggsy Spanier was born 125 years ago today (9 November 1901). This afternoon’s all-star quartet - from London, Lewis Taylor (cornet) & Michael McQuaid (reeds), from Paris, Félix Hunot (guitar), from London, Harry Evans (string bass) - salutes Muggsy!
Mon 09: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: Bechet-Spanier Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. Muggsy Spanier was born 125 years ago today (9 November 1901). This evening’s all-star quartet - from London, Lewis Taylor (cornet), from London, Michael McQuaid (reeds), from Paris, Félix Hunot (guitar), from London, Harry Evans (string bass) - salutes Muggsy!

Tue 10: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Becky Tuck (vocals).
Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 11: Plague Doctors Cure All + Noonward @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm. JNE.

Thu 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 12: JANE @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 12: MoonMot + Jack Banjo’s Snackwall @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 12: Ratio: Swingin’ Through the Decades @ The Forum, Darlington. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £10.00. A charity fundraiser.
Thu 12: Look Left @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Thu 12: Michael Woods @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free (donations). Acoustic blues.

Fri 13: Giles Strong Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Giles Strong (guitar); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 13: Lapwing Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Richard Herdman, Nick Bagnell, Paula Whitty.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Northern Monkey Brass Band @ Hexham Lantern Parade, Bandstand, Sele, Hexham. 6:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Sharp Collective @ Dry Water Arts, Amble. 7:00pm.
Fri 13: East Coast Swing Band @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:30pm.
Fri 13: Guisborough Big Band @ Saltburn Golf Club. 7:30pm. Tickets: £15.00 (inc. pie & peas

Sat 14: Lianne Carroll: Jazz Vocal Weekend Workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 9:30am-5:00pm. £95.00. Day 1/2. SOLD OUT!
Sat 14: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 14: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20 (inc. bf); £11.00 concs (inc. bf).
Sat 14: Red Kites Jazz @ Staiths Café, Gateshead. 7:00pm.
Sat 14: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Tweed Gallery, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ McConnell's Gin & Ale House, Jarrow - February 14

Bob Wade (trumpet); Jim McBriarty (clarinet/alto/vocal); Lawrence McBriarty (trombone); Brian Bennett (banjo/leader); Bill Colledge (bass guitar); Fred Thompson (drums/vocal) + Jess McConnell (vocal ).
(Review by Lance).
I'd spent the afternoon on the operating table at South Tyneside General - a funny way to spend Valentine's Day. Normally, I'd have stayed home to recuperate but, having set the wheels in motion for the VCJ to play a gig at McConnell's Gin and Ale House, I wasn't going to let Carpel Tunnel Syndrome keep me away.
I'd also heard good reports about trumpet player Bob Wade, a recent arrival to the area having spent many years living, working and playing in South Africa and I wanted to check him out.
I wasn't disappointed. Nice round tone, lyrical, and, at times, fiery he seemed to give the band a lift.
The brothers McBriarty held their own alongside the newcomer with the rhythm section providing the springboard.
A typical Vieux Carré session - Running Wild; Dinah; Bye Bye Blues; I'm Beginning to See the Light; Hello Dolly; Bourbon St. Parade; Royal Garden Blues; Lazy River; When You're Smiling; Avalon; Doctor Jazz; Exactly Like You; At the Jazz Band Ball; Lady be Good; Darktown Strutters Ball; Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen; Goin' Home and a reprise of Hello Dolly with vocal by Jess McConnell himself!
There were also vocals from Fred Thompson and Jim McBriarty - even ladies dancing and, fortunately, My Funny Valentine wasn't played on the banjo.
Lance.
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2 comments :

Bill Harper said...

nice to see the old band back in full swing after all these years ---- your mention My Funny Valentine reminds me of a sunday morning session at the Brahms & Liszt in the Bigg Market with the RED CARR ALL STARS (Ronnie Young). During the interval a group of us were discussing the use of banjos in jazz.As a pianist I found them an absolute nightmare but Clem Avery who was in the audience, was defending them vigourously.The discussion fell apart in gales of laughter when Ronnie McLean (also in the audience)quietly interjected that he found it hard to imagine a beautiful ballad like LAURA being performed on the banjo.Clem conceded defeat !!!!!

Wednesday, February 15, 2017 1:33:00 pm
Lance said...

I will remember the story. I don't know if if I was actually there or if I heard it from Ronnie McLean himself during those years I worked with him in Windows. Ronnie, God rest his soul, had a habit of recounting his favourite stories to all in sundry. He played in Dusseldorf with Lennie Hastings band and, during the time we worked together, I think I learned more about Dusseldorf than Adolph Hitler did.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017 8:03:00 pm

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