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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

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, March 19, 2018

Jason Isaacs & the Ambassadors of Swing @ Hoochie Coochie - March 18.

Jason Isaacs (vocal/tenor); Darren Irwin, Mark Webb (trumpets); Dave Brock (trombone); Sue Ferris (alto/flute/clarinet); Alexis Cairns (tenor/clarinet); Stu Collingwood (keys); Neil Harland (bass); Simon Ferry (drums).
(Review by Lance).
Hoochie Coochie was steaming, the snow outside melting, inside, the air was filled with the aromas usually inhaled at Fenwick's cosmetic counters. I'm sure there was some aftershave in there too but, just as it was in the old days at Sinatra, Elvis and Dino gigs, us males were in the minority.
Yup! Jason was back at Hoochie and, as always, the crowd adored him.
He was in good voice - is he ever not? - Wonderwall; Beyond the Sea; Mr Bojangles; Ain't that a Kick in the Head? and Let it Snow had the room buzzing. The band were right behind him booting it along all the way.
Why Don't You Do Right? featured the singer who, from my perspective, appeared to be only slightly less tall than Grey's Monument,  blowing tenor and yes, he could give up the day job!
Elvis time - Just Can't Help Believing. Frank time - That's Life. Cab Calloway time - Minnie the Moocher and the room hi-di-hi and ho-di-hoing.
King of the Road then more Elvis and the American Trilogy. Now, don't get me wrong. It's a great arrangement and Jason sings it as if he was standing on the steps of the White House but, sorry, I'm afraid it always makes me cringe.
Sway was more relaxing, the gentle Latin rhythm coaxing a few dancers on to the floor.
Interval time.
Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown had the room jumping from bar one but it was Cheek to Cheek that they crowded the floor for. 
Moon Dance; One For my Baby with just Jason and Stu reenacting the classic barroom ballad. More Elvis - The Wonder of You. Mucho audience participation on Can't Take my Eyes Off You; Lou Rawls' You're Gonna Miss my Lovin';  rock and roll with Jump Jive. The dancers were up for this one and my two companions for the evening were in the middle of it all shimmying like their sister Kate.
Spandau Ballet's Your Indestructible is designed as a sax battle between Jason and Lewis Watson. However, Lew was indisposed so it was up to Alexis Cairns to pick up the gauntlet. The girl did good but, if she'd stood up to blow instead of remaining seated, she may have got the decision!
The afternoon/evening was drawing to a close but not before Suspicious Minds;  the killer New York New York, and Everybody Needs Somebody.
Simply fantastic. Singer, band, venue and, of course, the man who makes it all happen - Warren.
More photos.
Lance.
PS: More big band jazz on April 22 with SSBB.

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