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HOWAY THE LADS!

Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: Pearl Blossoms @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime.
Sun 16: Hot 8 Brass Band @ Wylam Brewery. 7:30pm. ‘Big Tuba Tour’.
Sun 16: ARQ @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Air4ce @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:30pm (8:00pm doors). £12.00.; £10.00. Tom Atkinson’s all-star band (line-up inc. Lindsay Hannon & Sue Ferris).
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Jamie Toms Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.
Tue 18: Phil Bancroft’s Beautiful Storm @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20 & £11.00.. A JNE-Gem Arts co-promotion.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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).

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, October 04, 2017

Another crazy night on Pink Lane - October 3

(Review by Russell)
The competition was fierce…Gerry Richardson in Hexham (the train about to depart), the Customs House Big Band’s rehearsal night at the New Crown, and the best blues jam session in town down at the Brandling Villa on Haddrick’s Mill Road. Something nagged…the Jazz Café’s first (and third!) Tuesday in the month jam session invariably produces fireworks, you just can’t afford to miss it.
Blue Bossa for starters, the Jazz Café audience a bit slow off the mark, but turn up they did. In time the joint was jumpin’. The sitters-in were jockeying for position at the bar. It’s a treat to hear pianist Alan Law whatever the occasion. From time to time he couldn’t resist the Latin vibe and John Pope   and sparring partner Paul Wight offered little resistance when they were taken to Cuba (and back). The bass and drums pairing found time to showcase Pope’s arco bass solo topped off with filigree brush work from Wight.
Jazz Co-op mainstay Keith Barrett threw his hat in the ring, immediately impressing on Lover Man and the Gibson playing guitarist stayed on for a couple more. A good start. Hey! Look who’s here…
it’s Jeremy McMurray! Alan Law and Jeremy McMurray in the house, how lucky are we? Law took five and…here’s Dan Garel. Things were hotting up! Autumn Leaves, Blue Monk, biting alto, rhythm section cookin’ – it’s the only show in town. Drummer John Bradford made a big impression when he turned up a fortnight ago and he turned up once again. A most welcome addition to the session, check him out. Hey! Look who’s here…Mr John Rowland and ‘Showtime’ David Gray! Rowland’s trademark Johnny Cool tenor, Gray’s all-action trombone, the jam session was well and truly under way.

South Shields born, Canadian resident, in walked Paul Lucas. ‘On vacation’ Lucas dropped by with acoustic guitar in hand, Lewis Currie at the piano, Cantaloupe Island then Meditation with the line-up changing  by the minute. Drummer Mohammad sat in on a couple, Wight resumed duties, Early Bird guitarist Matthew Downey joined the party but not before fellow guitarist Ath Alex took a trip on a Pink Lane A Train. A time-consuming guitar pedal board set-up threatened a hiatus until Jeremy McMurray stepped in to play a consummate piano medley. Early Bird Downey showed what he can do when he puts his mind to it on St Thomas, and to put the icing on yet another tremendous Jazz Café jam session Katy Trigger put in a late appearance as Jordan Alfonso tore it up on alto.

So busy was it that several hopefuls didn’t get the call. They’ll be back next time. The date for your diary is Tuesday 17 October, eight o’clock start.                            
Russell
Alan Law (piano), John Pope (double bass) & Paul Wight (drums) + more or less in order of appearance Keith Barrett (guitar), Jeremy McMurray (piano), John Bradford (drums), Paul Lucas (guitar), Dan Garel (alto saxophone), Ath Alex (guitar), Lewis Currie (piano), Mohammad (drums), Jordan Alfonso (alto saxophone), John Rowland (tenor saxophone), David Gray (trombone), Matthew Downey (guitar), Peter Saaremets (guitar) & Katy Trigger (double bass) 

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