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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

17985(and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 306 of them this year alone and, so far, 62 this month (April 26).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: International Jazz Day @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £16.00.; £14.00. adv.. Feat. Guido Spannocchi, John Pope & Steve Hanley + Take it to the Bridge participants + Open Mic Night participants.

MAY 2025

Thu 01: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Member’s Contribution.
Thu 01: Alabaster de Plume @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 01: Living in Shadows + OUTRI @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: The Shayo Experiment @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Shayo Oshodi & Liam Oliver.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ STACK, Seaburn. 4:30-6:15pm. Free.
Fri 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:00pm. £7.50. A ‘Nauta’s House’ gig featuring Nauta & guests Shayo Oshodi & David Gray.
Fri 02: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 02: Dom Pipkin @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Solo piano.
Fri 02: Abbie Finn Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00. + bf.

Sat 03: Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Summer Samba Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 03: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Postmodern Jukebox @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Sat 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £3.00. + bf.
Sat 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:30pm. Free.

Sun 04: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 04: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 04: Ben Crosland Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Thursday, November 30, 2017

RIP Fred Rowe - Gentleman and Trumpet Player

Just received the sad news that veteran Dixieland trumpet player Fred Rowe died in hospital this morning.
When someone dies it is almost obligatory to say what a nice guy he was irrespective of the truth. No such subterfuge in the case of Fred Rowe. Fred really was one of the nicest guys you could hope to meet and a fine trumpet player who formed his style early on and stuck with it. I first heard him playing with the Rivermouth Jazzmen at the Wouldhave Café, later to change its name to the Shoreline Club, on the seafront at South Shields. It was honest, straight down the middle, Dixieland. This would be in the early '50s. In later years I heard Fred with the Tyne Valley Stompers and other bands led by drummer Ray Brown.
Like myself, Fred and Ray were cycling enthusiasts and I recall Fred telling me that as a special present for a 'significant' birthday the family arranged a trip to the Ghent Six-Day race in Belgium.
In his latter days, he played with Rendezvous Jazz and the Vieux Carré Jazzmen before finally retiring from playing in 2015.
His lyrical lead, his catchy vocals and his sense of fun will be missed by all who knew him both on and off the stand.
Move over Gabriel there's a new kid in Heaven.
Fred Rowe was 89.
Condolences to family and friends.
Funeral details to be announced.
Lance.

16 comments :

Russell said...

Fred singing 'Angry' with Maureen Hall's Rendezvous Jazz at the Piper in Cullercoats was good fun. He insisted he was 'angry' but, of course, nothing could have been further from the truth. A nice man.

Ian Stocks (on F/b) said...

Only worked a couple of times with Fred but a nice gentleman so sad.

Anonymous said...

Very sad news. There not many trumpet players left.
Very nice gentleman, very easy to play for and with.
Will be sorely missed .
Peace and blessings
Raymond Newton Double Bass player.

Brian (Vieux Carré Jazzmen) said...

It seemed Fred could play anything on trumpet - I can't recall him ever saying 'sorry, I don't know that one'.
He was a terrific showman and entertainer, too. His comedy versions of popular 20's hits which he put his own hilarious lyrics to included, 'MY MOTHER'S PIES' (My Mother's Eyes) and 'I'M GETTING OVER THE WORST HANGOVER' (I'm looking over a 4-Leaf Clover), would have the audience in fits of laughter.
Fred was still doing the business when he visited the Crescent Club just a few months ago and performed a duet with his good friend and clarinetist from The Vintage Jazzmen, Jim Ruddick - they sang 'Minnie the Mermaid' to great applause. RIP Fred.

Pablo Gowlando (on F/b) said...

Sad news indeed!

Laurie Brown (on F/b) said...

Enjoyed his playing on many occasions when he guested with us at the "Porthole" Jazz Club in North Shields!

Steve Doyle (on F/b) said...

Oh no!! Lovely man!! What a pity

Roly said...


Such sad news. As has been said above, a lovely man and such a nice player. I remember he used to talk about his model making too. I believe he was quite an expert in that field.

Robert Alan Smith (on F/b). said...

Rest in Peace Fred.

John Carstairs Hallam said...

I played with Fred for years in the Tyne Valley Stompers. Ray Brown used to hand him a programme list which Fred would consult, put on his mischevious smile, drop the list on the floor and stomp off something completely different ! He had a little chip of wood which he dropped on the floor. He was the nicest man, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of early jazz - including the Verses which few other jazzers would bother with. He was a great help to me in sorting out unusual tunes - and also a bit of chemistry when I was restoring old engines.
I believe he had an extensive record collection.
In 40 years Fred kept to his technique which could have quite a bite. My brother came up one weekend and told me that he could spot which note Fred was going to play next as his eyebrows went up to match the note. I enjoyed listening to him , both leading the band and on vocals.
A great loss to Jazz. He even liked sousaphones!

CCJAZZMEN said...

I remember many sessions with The Vintage Jazzmen with Fred Rowe on trumpet. In the early 1970's, Dad played a lot of valve-trombone with the band and I would always get my chance to sit in and stand next to Fred and try to play a new number that I was learning. He was always very patient while I was trying to find the right notes, as you have said a true gentleman. The last time I had a blow with Fred was in 2014. He was a fine trumpet player who played at times in the Muggsy Spanier, Tommy Ladnier style very lyrical but with power.
He will be very much missed. R.I.P.
Colin Aitchison (Hong Kong)

Tony Winder (on F/b). said...

Worked with Fred on a number of occasions. Always a pleasure and great fun.
Sad news indeed.

sparkledanni said...

Thankyou all for your kinda words this means so much to us all and I know my granda spoke very highly of you all and constantly had stories and jokes to tell us involving you as I recognise many of the names mentioned above and by those who’ve left comments we will cherish your kind words in this difficult time for us all

Love Danielle (Fred’s youngest granddaughter) x

Anonymous said...

Condolences to the family and all Fred's many admirers but particularly from the group of us
from Shields whose love of trad jazz was sparked off by visits to hear Fred and friends at the South Shields Jazz club meeting variously in the old South Shields Corporation Transport Club in Green Street and the nearby Veterans Club ..all in the fifties...will be greatly missed but never forgotten...Brian Mackley

Bill Harper said...

So sad to hear the news about Fred. He was was the first established band that I ever played with when he asked me to join the Rivermouth Jazzmen in 1955 approx.& I stayed with him until 1957 until Nat Service in the RAF called. Fred was indeed a lovely man who had an enormous repertoire of tunes inc. some really obscure stuff. He gave Trevor Johnson & myself a lot of leeway at the Wouldhave which was a dry gig & turned a blind eye to our trips to the Sea Hotel,during the interval(the nearest watering hole) often returning a little late-- you couldn't force Trevor to hurry a pint.The band did a lot of river boat shuffles in those days & as there was never a piano on board, Fred allowed me to play my ancient alto sax, very incompently,rather than let me lose the gig.Two years in an RAF station band improved my competence but I never played again after my demob.I have an old photo of the band in full flight at the Wouldhave with Trevor Johnson on clarinet, Gus Minto (Tbne),Pete Martin (bjo),Ray Brown(Wbd),myself on piano,& Danny Harris on bass.The only people who could still be alive are Gus & Pete but I have no knowledge.They were happy days & playing with Fred was a great learning curve in my future jazz career. Fred will be a great loss.

Lance said...

Love to see that photo Bill.

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