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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.

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

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!

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

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Classic Swing @ The Ship, Monkseaton - January 23

Bob Wade (trumpet/flugel); Don Fairley (trombone); Paul Gowland (tenor); Colin Haikney (piano); Alan Rudd (bass); Tommy Graham (drums); Olive Rudd (vocals) + Gordon Solomon (trombone); Doris Fenn (banjo).
(Review by Lance/video by MaryB Jazz).
Front Street, in the Whitley Bay suburb of Monkseaton, may fall short of  52nd St. in its heyday but its three pubs have, over the years, all contributed to the lunchtime classic/vintage jazz scene. Two of them still do. On Fridays, Maureen Hall's Rendezvous Jazz are regulars at the Monkseaton Arms whilst, up the street at Ye Olde Ship (or 'The Ship' as most people call it), Bob Wade and Classic Swing play their brand of mainstream on Tuesdays. This was my first visit and it certainly won't be my last. Seats were at a premium and when they kicked off with It Don't Mean a Thing it was easy to understand why.
South African trumpet player Wade is rapidly carving a niche for himself on the local scene and justifiably so. His attacking style with its bravura runs and half-valve effects wouldn't be out of place at a 1930s club in Harlem. With Paul Gowland adjusting to the idiom on tenor and Don Fairley consolidating his position as top trombone, the band plays what it says on the tin - Classic Swing.
Adding Colin Haikney on piano - is there a more tasteful player? - Alan Rudd on bass and Tommy Graham on drums enables them to comfortably fill the gap 'twixt the New Orleans bands and the boppers.
A very palatable cake indeed - and that's before we add the icing!

I hadn't heard Olive Rudd since she sang with the Maine Street boys at Rosie's in South Shields a few years back. Well, let me tell you, folks, that, even with a cold, she's still got it! What's more, unlike at Rosie's, she's not restricted to a couple of numbers each set.
My only complaint is that she didn't sing I Wished on the Moon or How'd Ya Like to Love me?  Still, a minor quibble compared to what she did sing.
It Don't Mean a Thing: Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man of Mine (he was on bass); The Gipsy; I Got Rhythm; Make me a Pallet on the Floor; 'S Wonderful; When You're Smiling and Tuxedo Junction.

The big surprise of the afternoon was the arrival of trombonist Gordon Solomon. Gordon, former leader of the River City Jazzmen, the Phoenix Jazzmen and member of various other bands including the Newcastle Big Band confided that, owing to ill-health, he hadn't played for ten years but was hoping to sit in.
Sit in he did!
A spirited Rosetta* with Doris Fenn on banjo revealed that the old magic hadn't gone and his duet with Don Fairley on Sweet Georgia Brown absolutely brought the house down - J & K ride again!

Paul Gowland played Darn That Dream and dreamy it was. I've heard Paul play like Coltrane, Parker, Shorter but this afternoon he was closer to Hawkins, Webster maybe Chu (not Chuck!) Berry. Such is the man's versatility.

Let's not forget the rhythm section.
The trio had the spotlight for Surrey With the Fringe on Top. It was even tastier than my cheese and onion toastie and rivalled my pint of Jennings' Cumberland Ale.
A most enjoyable afternoon.
Lance.

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