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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

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: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
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.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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, March 09, 2018

Elkie Brooks @ Sage Gateshead - March 8 - Take 2

Elkie Brooks (vocal); Andrew Murray (keys); Rufus Ruffell (guitar); Brian Badham (bass guitar); Mike Smith (tenor sax/synth); Fraz Knapp (drums)
(Review by Ann Alex)
A great night indeed, as Lance said, with level 1 of Sage full, and Elkie giving about 150%. This lady can sing it all, ballads, rock, blues, soul, country, and I’m told that she also does a mean GASbook song, though there was no jazz in this gig. The voice is gutsy, bluesy, with long notes and much gospel style vibrato on some notes. She didn’t need backing singers as some clever electronic wizardry enabled Elkie to sing with herself, mostly as call and response, on some songs. She told us that she’d thoroughly enjoyed the evening and she meant it. She even apologised for the concert rescheduling, caused by throat problems. So we clapped along when encouraged by the drummer, and there was a standing ovation at the end of the evening. There was a touch of humour when an audience member shouted something which Elkie mistook as rude. She began to admonish the person diplomatically before a band member put her in the picture. ‘Get them up was what he’d shouted’ she was told.
Talking of the band, they were well up to their game and had many short solos. The drummer related well to the crowd, the sax was quite jazzy, the guitars flowed well, and the keys came into their own especially during the encore with a moving love song, with just voice and keys. Elkie appreciatively introduced each musician during her well-known song Pearl’s A Singer, then promptly picked up a tambourine herself.
Some of the songs featured were from her latest CD, Elkie Brooks – Pearls – The Very Best Of. I didn’t get the names of all the songs, which were not announced, but included was Do Right Man(?); Sunshine After The Rain; Fool If You Think It’s Over; To Make You Feel My Love; Gasoline Alley: Nights In White Satin; Lilac Wine; Love Ain’t  Something You Can Get For Free; Don’t Cry Out Loud; No More The Fool; Pearl’s A Singer. The second half of the show was louder, bluesier, with lively flashing lights – then suddenly a black stage. The audience demanded an encore, which was the love song with keys only (A Song For You?), then the whole band for Purple Rain; We’ve Got Tonight.
Another very successful Sage gig, thanks to Ms Brooks and her band.
Ann Alex

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