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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: 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

Monday, February 19, 2018

Alex Mendham in concert near York this Friday (Feb. 23)



Alex Mendham and his Orchestra perform the sophisticated and stylish music of the 1920’s and 30s with the modern energy and passion of their youthful years. They epitomise Hollywood’s golden age.
When it comes to presenting the sound, charm and white-tie elegance of vintage Hollywood: from their original instruments and pomade that slicks down their hair to their sharp tuxedos and spectacular dresses, no detail is overlooked.
Formed under the leadership and direction of their charismatic founder and singer Alex Mendham, this show Orchestra complete with singing duo, The Dunlop Sisters present a unique combination of dance band music and film scores from the Hollywood musical. 
Highly in demand, the Orchestra has performed at iconic venues throughout the U.K and toured internationally from Mountain Resorts of Europe to Palaces in Russia, wowing audiences with their displays of showmanship and grand scale visuals.

The Orchestra is at home in concert show settings recreating the opulence of vintage Hollywood. Amidst a busy show schedule, they also perform for an array of private high end luxury events and launches that have included such renowned venues as Kensington Palace.

Sell out shows across the U.K include Cheltenham, Harrogate, Petworth, Canterbury Snape Proms and Wilderness Music Festival, alongside The Orchestra appearances across BBC radio and television. 
Their brand new album ‘On With The Show’, Alex Mendham & His Orchestra pay homage to the great songwriters George Gershwin, Cole Porter and many others.
YouTube.
“Alex and the Orchestra are incredible, there’s nothing quite like them!” – Jonathan Ross – BBC Radio 2
About Alex Mendham
Alex Mendham, born 1989 in Essex, has always been entranced with the music and elegance of the 1920s and 30s.

Mendham studied the saxophone with legendary American musician Bob Wilber. He was singing from an early age and began working in Paddington in his early twenties to finance a long held dream.

In 2010 Alex called the first auditions to create a young, exhilarating show band similar to those in the glamourous black and white movies he had seen at home as a boy.

Throughout these formative years, Alex made several visits to America to meet and learn from various veteran musicians including saxophonist Al Gallodoro, the last living musician to have performed with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. 

Shortly after forming his own Orchestra, Alex began a long-term association with the famous Savoy Hotel, in becoming resident bandleader, a position held for over 5 years.

     Ray Robson
     Friday February 23: King's Theatre, Queen Ethelburga's College
     Thorpe Underwood Hall, OuseburnYO26 9SS, York

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