Total Pageviews

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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

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.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

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) 

No comments :

Blog Archive