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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
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.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

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

Tuesday, July 04, 2017

Claudia Edward @ Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival July 1/2.

(Review [unexpurgated] by Annie O'Donnell)
The lawn is littered with seated, dancing. walking people, acrobatic children in a girl dance band rivalling Diversity...playing bat and ball in the gentle breeze in July summer sun.

Captivating Claudia Edward And Her Prize Catch Of Gem Studded Licks , Flicks, Plucks & Flying Sticks Tightly Pulled Together In A Band Of Jumping Jiving Jamming Soul Diving Music , & Vocals... Revving Up The Audience As If It Were In The London Arena, Albert Hall.
She is a rising star straight out of St Lucia. Her original songs sound like hits straight out of the oven.
Her rendition of BB King, THE THRILL IS GONE, her deep bass growl of a voice holds you in its warmth. She has a GOOSEBUMPS sing the Blues voice and Louis Armstrong appeared in my mind's eye and ears as if her deep voice was his, Shirley Bassey appeared as well. She has her own voice and is true to herself, she has the same blessing of the GENERALS aforementioned. 
Excellent diction, engages with audience,
She shines with the sun who is here to listen to and shine on her as she sings with passion and her smiling face and soul. 

I walk right up to the front of the stage
Make connection, get on the page
She finishes with  a beautiful original
There's Something About You

Randy Henry, Drummer, played real tight snare sound with kettle drum. Jumping smiley beans style

At 8pm Claudia and Band play in The Tent. It is packed with an audience that doesn't need to be asked to participate as she belts out DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT A THING''.
She says the next song is hers, but Toffee her dynamic lead guitarist wants to sing it and his mesmerising unique blues soul voice grabs me as he sings,' HERE I AM, COME TAKE ME,'.. & BOY GEORGE COMES TO MIND...I close my eyes and I know why as his voice washes over me...

Simon Cunliffe- Lister joins the band with the song BROWN SKIN.. with his screaming sax solo fusing with Randy Jumping up and down with his sticks tapping anywhere in on around him....KC Aurelian merging bass with drum so we have nightclub sound...then

 Toffee melts his reggae blues funk energy soul to sing through his guitar.
HE MEANS BUSINESS COZ HE IS THE BUSINESS

SUNDAY IN THE GREAT HALL....MORE OF CLAUDIA AND THE BOYS

The Hall is Packed as I enter..
I see an empty seat on front row
and I boldly walk to it with my A4 pad & pen in hand...
Theo 'Toffee' Joseph, Lead Guitarist 
takes you to Heaven as you feel with his Groove
He means Business
Because He is the Business.
as I said before and I wrote it again.
He's so good I said it twice
Randy Henry, Drums is a Flying Drummer emitting
the Spirit  of The Ancient Drum Beat of Life.
The Drum isn't alive without the Hit ...
Randy is THE HIT MAN.. He is THE STICK
This is WHY HE MOVES CONSTANTLY
YOU CAN'T CONTAIN HIM.
He is an artist..He is the wind 
HE IS JAZZ 
CONSTANTLY CHASING
FEELING ANTICIPATING
MAKING THE BEAT
and he always stands up
at the end of every tune


BENTON JULES: KEYBOARD / PIANO
Benton never misses an emotion
he feels it all the way through
a quiet powerful smooth engine
in this high sound energy band
but when you listen for his steady driving the keys
he leads like a Rolls Royce 
not flinching, he knows exactly what he's doing
his playing is the fire down below 
keeping everything warm and fiery
for the front of the show 


Randy is like a Kangaroo jumping around hitting anything he can with his rhythm sticks. hit me, hit me with your rhythm stick, the universe sings to him and his response is raring to go...and Muhammad Ali comes to mind. buzzing. As he danced around in the ring, his fists were his drumsticks. As Randy walks around in his Acapella style excitable like a fluttering butterfly & bee.
Claudia invites her new best friend Niamh, BAREFOOT on stage, she is a young teenage girl here with her family and pals. Together they sing ADDICTED TO LOVE, Niamh focusing on the Chorus and doing an excellent job. Randy stands up to play and he is so tall, about 6'7” and his head bounces off the tent roof. Never mind Walking Bass Line,

KC Aurelian Bass
who stands still and ROCKS UNDERPINNING  real solid foundations.
he is so cool...doesn't move but his bass HAS THE GROOVE , 
His ear is so connected to the others
his bass notes move around the chords
making magic...he is a quiet man who lets his bass speak for itself

This Band was a HIT in the Festival...I could have listened to them all day....what else can I say...ENCORE ENCORE ENCORE

Annie O' Donnell  4th July 2017


3 comments :

Claudia Edward said...

wow,. thanks for this amazing write up.. blessings always

Amazona said...

Wow!! You rocked it Claudia!

Claudia Edward said...

Thank you very much

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