Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Friday, September 29, 2017

Strictly Smokin’ @ The Millstone - September 28

(Review by Russell)
Another public rehearsal session at the newly refurbished Millstone with the SSBB. A varied set list starting with Maroon 5’s Sunday Morning. The all-American boys scored a couple of hits from their 2002 album Songs for JaneShe Will Be Loved and the aforementioned Sunday Morning. Strictly Smokin’ vocalist Alice Grace sang it with lyrics sheet in hand. It’s shaping up to be another winning tune for the band. The SSBB’s other vocalist – F’reez – sang, as he often does, Sunny, with a blast on alto from Keith Robinson.
At this monthly session the one thing you’re guaranteed is variety. Catch As Catch Can swung at a lick with Paul Gowland, tenor, breezing through his solo spot. Later Gowland rose to play Body and Soul duly winning applause from the regulars in the Millstone’s upstairs function room. The band is one of disciplined sections with a take-your-pick selection of accomplished soloists and several got a chance to have a blow including Pete Tanton, David Barnes, and the engine room boys Graham Don and Pawel Jedrzejewski.

One of the joys of gig-going is being surprised – a tune, a solo, a phrase. Well, Alice Grace singing Hard Hearted Hannah was one such surprise. Fantastic! If the wonderful Ms Grace turned up at a New Orleans /Dixieland session looking to sit in, there’s yer tune!

The Strictly Smokin’ Big Band is looking forward to a big gig on Sunday 15 October. Superstar Joe Stilgoe will be working with the band at Hoochie Coochie and the word is tickets are going fast. To be sure of your ticket visit the SSBB’s website for details: www.strictly-smokin.co.uk          
Russell
Michael Lamb MD, Pete Tanton, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey trumpets; David Barnes, John Flood, Laura Davison, Kieran Parnaby trombones; Jamie Toms, Paul Gowland, Keith Robinson, Dave Kerridge, Laurie Rangecroft saxophones; Pawel Jedrzejewski guitar; Graham Don keyboards; Michael Whent bass; Guy Swinton drums; Alice Grace vocals; F’reez vocals   


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