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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

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Kathryn Tickell and Superfolkus @ Lindisfarne Village Hall – July 16.

Kathryn Tickell (Northumberland pipes, fiddle), Sophie (fiddle, guitar), Scott (guitar, piano, mandolin), Michael (accordion), Will (percussion, mandolin).
Guests: Abby, Mike Tickell (voice), Rory (piano). 
(Review by Steve T.)
When the tide comes in Holy Island is another country, they do things different there. One lady told us that the pubs stay open late in summer but close early in the middle of July. I hoped the Wicker Man would be on the box to really spook Mrs T. Whether summer or mid-July, headline acts play in the afternoon so the queer folk who cross the causeway don't get stuck.  
Bebop Spoken Here is a North East Jazz site and many will claim Ms. Tickell has nothing to do with Jazz and I wouldn't totally disagree, despite her exploratory nature, her experimenting with unusual (for folk) instruments, room for improvisation in the frequent jigs and no small amount of virtuosity.
She has also written, recorded and performed with British jazz sax ace Andy Sheppard which remains in her set, whether Superfolkus or the Side.
Chatting with Jazz North East ace photographer Ken Drew a few weeks ago, we both agreed we aren't generally that much bothered by folk music but do love Kathryn Tickell. He told me of a discussion he had with another photographer about catching a shot of her when she's lost in music, and anyone who's seen her will know this. This strikes me as another Jazz thing.
If a connection between her and jazz is tenuous, she more than makes up for it in her relevance to the North East. If she isn't a national treasure - and I think she probably is - she's a North East treasure of the highest order.
This was the first time I'd seen her with this band and format though Mrs T saw them at Ushaw last year. While it's mostly the full band, you also get an accordion/guitar duo, a fiddle duo, this afternoon, two Geordie songs from eleven-year old singer Abby during each set, a mash-up from guest pianist Rory and a Cushy Butterfield singalong led by her father. This reminded my soft southern puff wife of when my mother gave her pease pudding and she thought she was trying to poison her.
Apart from the percussionist, the band are all music students under twenty, some from Glasgow Conservatoire and all very impressive. Having said that, my preference is for her other band the Side, featuring all ladies playing harp, cello and accordion who did Ushaw this year and two years ago. The Superfolkus format is a bit more talent-show, but with talent.  
Either way, like Djangologie, Santana, Show of Hands and Maze, once is never enough, so anyone who hasn't seen Kathryn Tickell should.
Steve T

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