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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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. 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

Wednesday, November 01, 2017

Maine Street Jazzmen @ The British Legion, Jesmond - Oct 31

Ray Harley (trumpet), Gavin Lee (clarinet), Herbie Hudson (trombone, harmonica & vocals), Malcolm Armstrong (keyboards), Tom Derbyshire (double bass) & Scotty Adair (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Halloween. Woooooo! Jesmond’s student population was out and about, dressed for the occasion – blood-splattered clothing, horrific, gaping wounds. It was, of course, all for fun. A sanctuary from such jolly japes would be found in the British Legion Club, or would it? Last Tuesday in the month, come rain or come ghoulies, the Maine Street Jazzmen play Dixieland.

Without ceremony, the Maine Street Jazzmen played Just a Little While to Stay Here before playing Original Dixieland One-Step, the very foundations of the music, the beginning of the Maine Street’s regular gig in the lounge at the Legion. Herbie Hudson led a powerful front line, flanked either side by Ray Harley, trumpet, and Gavin Lee on clarinet. And it was Mr Hudson who sang Old Fashioned Love with piano accompaniment by Malcolm Armstrong. The band got into its stride with a hot take on Wabash Blues with clarinetist Lee wailing for all he was worth. The front line soloed on Tin Roof Blues with pianist Armstrong following up.

The ghoulies couldn’t be kept at bay, and, it is sad to report that drummer Scotty Adair is now one of the ‘undead’ (see photo). The beers on the bar – all keg – were fit for drinking by ghoulies only. The Maine Street’s raffle prizes were snaffled by a table of regulars…hubble, bubble, cast a spell!

Second set – Whistling Rufus, Jelly Roll’s Milenberg Joys (Lee quipped: the Stan Kenton version), and Ray Harley showing what he could do with some superb trumpet playing on Climax Rag, this a typically upbeat selection from the Maine Street Jazzmen. Big Butter and Egg Man segueing into Bourbon Street Parade and that was the Maine Street done for another month. December’s gig will be the band’s Christmas party night and it will be a couple of weeks earlier than usual on Tuesday 19 December.

West Jesmond Metro Station, late night. Metro into town, blood everywhere, the night of the living dead. Exiting Central Station Metro Station – ‘hello’ to this character (see photo). He hadn’t been to a jazz gig…more’s the pity.

Russell                  

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