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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

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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