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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, February 25, 2018

Customs House Big Band @ Customs House, South Shields - February 24.

(Review by Lance).
It had been some time since I last heard the CHBB during which time there’d been some changes made. Whether these were permanent or on the night deps I know not. In the sax section, Alan Marshall moved from tenor to lead alto. Former member Kim Skerritt, nee Webb, returned on second alto with another returnee, Jim McBriarty, blowing jazz tenor. The 'bones were unchanged with Kurgi-Smith handling the jazz but the trumpet section was less familiar. Bill Watson took a break from organising next weekend's Big Band Festival at Chester-le-Street to blow most of the 'hot choruses' with Riley-Gledhill chipping in with some mellow flugel.
On piano, former Early Birder Ben Lawrence made his debut with the band and the boy did good. Alan Smith was sound on bass guitar, Bradley, a mere sensation on guitar and the whole outfit driven by Barry Black and led from the front by MD Morgan who also plumbed subterranean depths on bass trombone. As always, Ruth Lambert handled the vocals in her inimitable manner. However, Ruth's contribution will be reported in a separate post by Ann Alex.
So, what did they play? The setlist below gives an idea of the diversity of the program but not the excitement generated! You'll have to take my word on that one or else catch them at Spennymoor on April 13. It will be worth the trip. If your passport is out of date then you can hear the band again next year at the Customs House on April 12, 2019.
First set: Flight of Fancy; The Count Steps Out; Round Robin; Nice Work if You Can Get It; The Man I Love; Blue Bossa; Stompin' at the Savoy; Summertime; Almost Like Being in Love; Why Musicians Can't Dance; Steppin' Out.
Second Set: In the Mood; That Warm Feeling; Basically Blues; Love is Here to Stay; Makin' Whoopee; A Few Good Men; Cute; At Last; Someone to Watch Over Me; Hallelujah I Love Her So; Blues in the Closet.
Encore: Alright, Okay, You Win.
Vocals in red.
Lance.
PS: I haven't mentioned Nelson, Kaberry, Temple, Catherall, Brocklesby and Fletcher as they didn't solo. However, their section work, along with that of Kim Skerritt, was exemplary and without them, the ship would have sunk. 
Chapeaux les tout ensemble.
Bob Temple, Paul Riley-Gledhill, Alan Catherall, Bill Watson (trumpets); Dave Brocklesby, Chris Kurgi-Smith, Michael Fletcher, (trombones); Peter Morgan (bass trombone/MD); Alan Marshall (alto/soprano); Kim Skerritt (alto); Jim McBriarty, Gillian Nelson (tenor); Chris Kaberry (baritone); Ben Lawrence (piano); Alan Smith (bass guitar); Bradley Johnston (guitar); Barry Black (drums); Ruth Lambert (vocals).

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