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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 12: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: King Bees @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.
Sun 12: Dave Bottomley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.
Sun 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 13: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 13: Raymond MacDonald & Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

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

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Millstone - May 25

(Review by Russell)
On entering a sweltering Millstone Michael Lamb indicated that the pub’s upstairs room offered a cool refuge from the heat of the day, hastily adding: Only joking! Sure enough the first floor room  resembled a boiler house. MD Lamb’s troops arrived in ones and twos for the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band’s monthly public rehearsal night. Several members of the band arrived in shorts. Where did they think they were? The Costa del Plonk?
Strike Up the Band, Sister Sadie, Basically Blues – a typically eclectic selection from the SSBB. A noticeably absent Alice Grace (presently, the woman has more important things to attend to!) gave some present a first opportunity to hear Jennifer Davies. Orange Colored Sky (more like cloudless blue!) and Too Darn Hot (darn right!) revealed Ms Davies to be a fine singer (a more than capable dep for AG), reading the charts as in standard rehearsal mode.
Michael Lamb lead from the front – intro and solo – on Autumn in New York. We should hear more of ML in a small group setting! The SSBB likes to play Jacob Mann charts. Pronk has become a gig staple and at this rehearsal night we heard Bounce House. It’s well worth checking out J Mann, the composer and big band leader.
More from Jennifer Davies: Alright, Okay, You Win and It Was a Very Good Year. No sign of F’reez tonight, so, Davies had the mic to herself and no one was complaining. Familiar faces were given a chance to shine; on this occasion David Barnes, trombone, Jamie Toms on tenor, Keith Robinson, alto, and, across the room, Graham Don, keyboards, and the ever-impressive Pav Jedrzejewski on guitar. Others featured, they often do, they know who they are! The Strictly Smokin’ rock up at Soul Central (aka Hoochie Coochie) on Sunday 18 June. On stage at 5:30pm, with Alice Grace and our man F’reez, plus a bonus set from Scarlett Street. £8.00., best to book in advance: 0191 222 0130.
Russell                     
Michael Lamb MD, Stephen Wilkinson, Gordon Marshall, Bob Temple (trumpets); David Barnes, Kieran Parnaby, Chris Gurji-Smith, John Flood  (trombones); Jamie Toms (tenor), Paul Gowland (tenor), Steve Summers (alto, soprano & flute), Keith Robinson (alto), Laurie Rangecroft (baritone); Graham Don (keyboards), Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar), Michael Whent (bass), Guy Swinton (drums) & Jennifer Davies (vocals)

2 comments :

Michael Lamb said...

Thanks for the review Russell... just a minor correction that Scarlet Street won't be gracing us with their presence at Hoochie on June 18th '17. However, correct that Alice and F'reez will be there and doing their thing! Tickets available at www.strictly-smokin.co.uk ��

Russell said...

I knew I should have relied on the SSBB website. Warren needs to update his website!

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