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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

18069 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 390 of them this year alone and, so far, 68 this month (May 222).

From This Moment On ...

MAY 2025

Sat 24: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:15pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 24: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Bywell Hall, Stocksfield. 1:30pm. Northumberland County Show.
Sat 24: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 24: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm.
Sat 24: Dean Stockdale Quartet + Mingus Sings @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm. Admission: see website: www.queenshall.co.uk. Stockdale (piano); Tim Williams (guitar); Gavin Barras (double bass); Gaz Hughes (drums) + Mingus Sings: Sara Oschlag (vocals); Alan Barnes (reeds); Tim Lapthorn (piano); Arnie Somogyi (double bass); Clark Tracey (drums). A Northumberland Jazz Festival event.
Sat 24: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 24: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sat 24: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £3.00. + bf.
Sat 24: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 25: Northern Monkey Brass Band @ Spanish City Plaza (outdoor stage). 11:30am & 1:00pm. Free. A Whitley Bay Carnival event.
Sun 25: Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion: Bandstand Sessions @ The Sele, Hexham. 12 noon. Free. A Northumberland Jazz Festival event.
Sun 25: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 1:30pm. Free.
Sun 25: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Catriona Bourne Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Admission: see website: www.queenshall.co.uk. Bourne (harp), Francis Tulip (guitar), James Owston (double bass), Joe Bainbridge (drums). A Northumberland Jazz Festival event.
Sun 25: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Struggle Buggy @ The Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sun 25: Joe Steels Group + Norma Winstone (vocals); Nikki Iles (piano); Mike Walker (guitar); Steve Watts (double bass). 7:00pm. Admission: see website: www.queenshall.co.uk. Steels (guitar); Ferg Kilsby (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ben Lawrence (piano); Paul Susans (double bass); John Hirst (drums). A Northumberland Jazz Festival event.
Sun 25: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 25: Xhosa Cole/Neil Charles/Mark Sanders @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A JNE promotion. Note: Xhosa Cole replaces Nicole Mitchell.

Mon 26: Catriona Bourne Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 26: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 27: Bold Big Band @ Newcastle Arts Centre, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £12.00. & £10.00.
Tue 27: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Front St., Rothbury NE65 7UT.7:30pm. £12.00.; £10.00. adv. from Tully’s (opp. venue).

Wed 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 28: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 28: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 29: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: That’s the Blues, Dad.
Thu 29: Nova.sol + Mikoudi @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 29: Front Porch Three @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, blues etc.

p>Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Rivkala @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 30: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Middleton & Tonbridge Village Hall. 7:30pm.

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

Saturday, November 25, 2017

In Other Words @ Tynemouth Station Christmas Market - November 25

Alex Thompson (alto saxophone), Nathan Lawson (guitar) & Dylan Thompson (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Tynemouth Station Christmas Market. Yes, November isn’t out, yet the Santa hats were out in numbers. The weekend market on either side of the Metro line is as popular as ever and today there was an added incentive to catch a train from Newcastle to the coast – In Other Words, in Santa and bobble hats themselves, were entertaining late morning visitors to a bustling market.
In Other Words (think Fly Me to the Moon) are Alex Thompson, alto, Nathan Lawson, guitar and Dylan Thompson, drums. The chances are you’ve heard them without knowing their names. On Sage Gateshead’s concourse these young men have entertained the crowds in numerous band permutations – Jazz Attack, JB’s Cats (that’s James Birkett’s young charges), Jambone (the big band based at Sage Gateshead) and the Early Bird Band to name but four.   

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! (please no, Christmas Eve will be soon enough!). Alex and Nathan donned Santa hats, Dylan a snazzy bobble hat. Beyond the Sea (not too far as the crow flies), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – the trio knew what to play, Christmas songs even though November isn’t out. In Other Words can’t help playing some jazz, it’s what they do, given the chance. Herbie Hancock’sWatermelon Man is a favourite, similarly Georgia. Alex played as well as ever, be it ballad tempo (Georgia) or a full steam ahead Caravan. Brother Dylan has the Juan Tizol/Duke Ellington drum part down to a tee. Metro passengers to and from trains stopped by to listen. One couple said: The alto player and drummer are really good, and the left-handed guitarist can play. The couple have ears.

The guitarist, the one who can play, is Nathan Lawson. The Gretsch-playing young man featured on Christmas Time is Here. Lots of Joe Pass-like stuff going on here. Marvellous. Remember it’s Christmas time…almost. Rudolph the Red Reindeer (all together now…), the trio’s signature tune, Fly me to the Moon and a reprise of Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! The lads can play, that’s for sure. They played for a fee, rightly, and they made more than a couple of bob with not one but two strategically placed collection buckets. A pleasant, if cold, hour and a quarter, be sure to check out In Other Words   

Russell

6 comments :

Ken D said...

Nice to find out who these young players were. I passed through the station soon after they started playing, and only had to stop briefly to hear how good they were, individually and as a 'band'. No doubt we'll see them popping up again - maybe at a local jam session ?? Nice one, despite it still being November ! :)

Russell said...

Ken, these young lads are veterans of the Jazz Cafe's jam session. There is the possibility that they could turn up at the last session of the year on Tuesday 19 December. It would be good to see you there.

Ken D said...

Ah ! Tnx Russell, good to hear !

Andrea said...

Great review Russell thank you!
Yes they do get around a bit these three although none of them can claim to have been members of Jazz Attack. Their other band is 'Paraffernalia', Gateshead Music Service's youth Big Band - Dylan past, Alex and Nathan still current members :)
Andrea

Russell said...

You're right Andrea, Paraffernalia is another of the bands! Will the band be competing at next year's Great North Big Band Jazz Festival, I wonder?

It's hard to believe that Jazz Attack wasn't/isn't one of their bands!

Andrea said...

Hopefully Paraffernalia will be there Russell.
Although we really could do with recruiting some new members as numbers in the band have really dwindled this year due to so many going off to university!

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