Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

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

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

A Carolina Moon over the Crescent Club - June 14

 Brian Bennett (banjo & vocals), Bob Wade (trumpet), Jim McBriarty (clarinet, tenor saxophone & vocals), Laurence McBriarty (trombone), Bill Colledge (double bass) & Fred Thompson (drums & vocals) + Miles Watson (trumpet & vocals)
(Review by Russell).
A sultry day down at the coast. If it’s a Wednesday it’s the Vieux Carré Jazzmen at the Crescent Club. There’ll Be Some Changes Made sang Fred Thompson. Not much change in the tried and tested formula – give the punters what they want. Savoy Blues, Avalon (Jim McBriarty blowing a tenor sax and singing), and Christopher Columbus featuring Laurence McBriarty, trombone, and the band’s recent recruit, the excellent Bob Wade, trumpet, exchanging ideas for fun. Trombone veteran Laurence seems to have a renewed spring in his step working alongside Wade. Brother Jim, a multi-reeds maestro if ever there was one, shared vocal duties with drummer Thompson, contented bandleader Bennett knocked out the chords and Bill Colledge perched on a high stool kept time, Rolex time.
Bandleader Bennett opened the second set with a request – My Monday Date – a tune the band hadn’t played in years. Fred Thompson sang it, Bob Wade winged it (he didn’t know the number), Bennett joined Colledge to read the dots, and the McBriartys played it (they can play anything). A success! Baby Won’t You Please Come Home? pleaded Jim McBriarty, Thompson went running over to the Darktown Strutters Ball returning in time to hear Mr Miles Watson crooning A Carolina Moon. The raffle prizes went elsewhere and in no time Brian Bennett declared he was Goin’ Home.
The Vieux Carré Jazzmen can be heard again at lunchtime tomorrow (Thursday) at the Holystone pub, North Tyneside. One o’clock, free admission. 
Russell. 

No comments :

Blog Archive