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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.

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. Guests: Jeremy McMurray (piano); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Mark Hawkins (drums); Adrian Beadnell (bass).

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: Struggle Buggy @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Blues.
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: Boys of Brass @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Ben Crosland Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. 12:30pm. £14.00. Tel: 0191 237 3697. ‘Victory in Europe Afternoon Tea’ (VE Day 80th anniversary).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: FILM: Whiplash @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 8:15pm.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: 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

Sunday, January 14, 2018

A bit on the Side

As Bebop Spoken Here's 10th birthday approaches and, with a significant birthday of my own in the offing, I'd like to reflect upon some of those gigs that were inspirational towards the creation of this labour of love. One venue, in particular, stands out.
Although I'd loved jazz for most of my life, and played in a few bands along the way, it was stumbling upon The Side Café on Newcastle's Quayside that resuscitated my enthusiasm. This was in 2008. So many of my contemporaries had passed on - Charlie Carmichael, Nigel Stanger, Trevor Johnson, Bobby Carr, Teddy Langston, Alf Parker, Ronnie McLean, Hughie Aitchison and many more that I'd begun to think the future for the music looked bleak.
However, I soon discovered the future was far from bleak. A young singer was singing songs from her mother's era and singing them good. No surprise when I discovered that this was Zöe Gilby, daughter of Mike Gilby whom I'd played alongside in the Newcastle Big Band.
From then on, the Side Café became my Monday date and, each week I was gobsmacked to discover how much young talent there was on the jazz scene. This was ten years ago and, today, the talent is getting even younger!
This was and is, mainly due to the work put in by Paul Edis who kicked off these sessions as part of the NEJC (North East Jazz Collective).
There really were some amazing sessions. May 5 I first heard the brilliant Vasilis Xenopoulos. I think my headline was 'Be Aware of Greeks Blowing Riffs'. Hopefully, my journalistic skills have improved since then!
Each week was an absolute delight. The vocal torch was carried by Ruth Lambert and Lindsay Hannon. Guitarists Mark Williams, Nick Pride, Tom Dibb, Edd Carr and Roly Veitch impressed. Graeme Wilson, Graham Hardy, Noel Dennis, David Carnegie, Adrian Tilbrook, Mick Shoulder and Andy Champion also caught my eye as they have done ever since. There were so many that I  apologise to those that I've missed out.
Bands like Extreme Measures took the place by storm as did the Paul Edis Sextet.
Strangely, not every gig was a sellout and the one which should have paid the bills from here to breakfast time - ace trumpet man, Steve Waterman, - didn't pull. One which did was the guitar duo of Deidre Cartwright and Kathy Dyson paying tribute to the late Emily Remler.
It was a wonderful couple of years in which we heard some fantastic music, gave a kickstart to this blog and helped Paul Edis towards the high esteem he is held in today.
Lance


6 comments :

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed those sessions very much Lance. That small, intimate room upstairs was ideal and you were close to the musicians in a way that meant you shared in the performance in a very nice way. I remember well the time I climbed the stairs hearing the music wafting down the stairs and thinking 'who is that great saxophonist' - it was Vas. The whole endeavour had a nice feel about it and the North East Jazz Collective concept was a really good idea.
Roly

cptfinch said...

Hear hear Lance. I was at that Steve Waterman gig. Blown away by the chops.
And it was around that time I found your blog and got back in to jazz

Paul Edis (on F/b). said...

Thanks for this Lance. Many happy memories reading this and looking through the photos...

Adam Sinclair (on F/b) said...

This seems like a lifetime ago! As the photographic evidence shows I was there.

Jamie McCredie (on F/b) said...

These are gorgeous Lance. Thanks for all you’ve done & continue to do. What a precious contribution and documentation of the scene in the North. Raising a glass to you from London x

Ken Drew (on F/b) said...

That photo is a real gem !! Nice One Lance.

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