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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

Friday, January 19, 2018

Jambone @ Sage Gateshead - January 18

(Review by Russell).
A concert by Sage Gateshead’s youth jazz orchestra is always a welcome event and despite a mid-January reminder of winter’s worst a good number of supporters took their seats in Sage Two for a one set performance of sixty minutes duration. The orchestra assembled on stage on time dressed in regulation all black attire.
The set list comprised four numbers; a Rodgers and Hart standard and three by Jambone MD Paul Edis. Putting names to most of the faces was a simple exercise given that Bebop Spoken Here has regularly documented the fortunes of the region’s premier youth big band. One new face, Ms Emily McDermott, the band’s vocalist, would sing on all four numbers, remaining on stage throughout.
McDermott, Alex Thompson playing clarinet, James Metcalf, trumpet, and Ben Lawrence, sitting at Sage Two’s Steinway, featured on the opening number, Edis’ It Ain’t Broke. McDermott possesses a fine voice, singing with assurance, if she was nervous it didn’t show. Will Ms. McDermott develop a jazz voice? Watch this space. Jambone MD Paul Edis informed the audience that Antonia Carlos Jobim’s signature jazz samba would add something a little different to The Long Way Round. A tale of Tyneside’s Metro rail system, try taking the scenic route – the long way round – to get a sense of Edis’ thinking as you travel from Newcastle to Whitley Bay via South Gosforth. Matthew Downey is the band’s guitarist, perhaps a little shy, a preference for being seated, but fully concentrated, took it out on a vamp alongside the ace Jambone rhythm section.

Lucien ‘Satchmo’ Guest stepped out of the trumpet section to join vocalist McDermott front of stage to play Louis to Jambone’s Ella. Great fun with some fine playing. My Funny Valentine (arr. P Edis) featured McDermott, of course, Alex Thompson on alto, and the band’s sole trombone player, Kate Garnett, with excellent work from the trumpet section. It isn’t often that a flautist gets an opportunity to show what they can do, but in this big band, not one but two fine players were duly given space; first Megan Robinson, then Imogen Davies-Pugh.

Edis’ Bite covered a lot of ground with just about everyone getting a chance to play on this, the final number of the evening. Solo contributions popped up all over the place but it would be remiss if the rhythm kings – bassist Alex Shipsey and drummer Dylan Thompson – didn’t get a mention. As sure as night follows day these young musicians will make it, if that’s what they want to do. Time will tell.    
Jambone is a ‘work in progress’ heading in the right direction and the Gateshead International Jazz Festival (April 6-8) offers a further opportunity to hear the band and, what’s more, the ensemble will be working with James Brady and Issie Barratt! Book your tickets now by calling Sage Gateshead’s ticket office – 0191 443 4661.
Russell. 
Paul Edis MD; Alex Thompson (alto saxophone & clarinet); Christopher Muir (alto & soprano saxophones); Ella Talbot (alto saxophone); Haaruun Miller (alto saxophone); Ryan de Silva (baritone saxophone); Kate Garnett (trombone); Imogen Davies-Pugh (flute); Megan Robinson (flute); Edward Hogben (trumpet); James Metcalf (trumpet); Lucien Guest (trumpet); Matthew Downey (guitar); Ben Lawrence (piano); Alex Shipsey (bass & double bass); Dylan Thompson (drums); Emily McDermott (vocals).

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