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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17744 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 64 of them this year alone and, so far, 64 this month (Jan. 26).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

Fri 31: Alan Barnes Quartet @ The Old Library, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 12 noon-2:00pm (two sets). £12.00. admission (card or cash at the door). Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums). Note change of venue, no longer at Mrs M’s as advertised, the concert will be in the Old Library (Bishop Auckland Jazz’s regular venue). Important! It’s a ‘BYOB’ arrangement - ie bring your own booze (and/or tea, coffee, soft drinks).
Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Café Orkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:00pm. ‘Klezmer, Gypsy Jazz, Balkan & More!’.
Fri 31: Nothing in Rambling @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £10.00. + bf. Country blues duo.
Fri 31 Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Wylam Institute. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £15.00. + £1.50. bf.
Fri 31: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £10.00 + bf. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.
Fri 31: Alan Barnes Quartet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00 Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 31: SwanNek + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. SwanNek’s new single launch gig. Pilgrim, formerly Hoochie Coochie.
Fri 31: King Bees @ Blues Underground; Nelson St., Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

February 2025

Sat 01: Alan Barnes & John Hallam with the Tom Kincaid Trio @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - Cy Coleman’s Witchcraft. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 01: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 01: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Rockin’ Turner Brothers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Western swing etc.

Sun 02: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 02: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 02: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free (donations).
Sun 02: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 02: Jive Aces @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:00pm. Sun 02: John Pope + Andy Champion + Ian Paterson @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Subterranean Explorations 1’. Three (half hour) solo bass sets.
Sun 02: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 03: Andy Watt & Dan Rogers @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance. Jazz, blues, folk etc.
Mon 03: 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

Thursday, April 05, 2018

Paul Skerritt Band @ Ashington Jazz Club - April 4

Paul Skerritt (vocals); James Harrison (piano); Anth Ord (bass); Tom Chapman (drums)
(Review by Russell) 
It was a rainy night in mid-Northumberland as the Paul Skerritt Band returned to Ashington Jazz Club some thirteen months on from a successful appearance at the Elephant public house. Jazz fans in this part of the world like Paul Skerritt and the boys and nonstop rain wasn’t to deter them.

The upstairs room of the Newbiggin Road hostelry filled up nicely as vocalist Paul Skerritt took to the stage right on time. Skerritt’s professional approach is part of the package and with his fellow musicians booted and suited a poignant opening number, What a Wonderful World, remembered two stalwarts of the regional jazz scene –  Ashington Jazz Club’s co-founder Bill Stafford and the highly respected multi-reedsman Derek Fleck who performed at the club on many occasions. 

From Curtis Stigers to Nat Cole to Lerner and Loewe’s Almost Like Being in Love, Skerritt knew what the audience wanted and duly came up with the goods. The quartet is one of friends as Paul has, seemingly, established a telepathic relationship with pianist James Harrison. They play with a sense of fun, but don’t be fooled, the musicianship is of the highest quality, and that goes for Anth Ord, bass, and drummer Tom Chapman. Amiability, good times, they’ve got it in spades, however, Gregory Porter’s committed, passionate Take Me to the Alley revealed another dimension to Paul, James, Anth and Tom. Their collective sensitivity in interpreting Porter’s song – with pianist James Harrison crafting a masterful solo – confirmed they can play heavyweight material when required.

Harold Arlen’s It’s Only a Paper Moon followed by Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine offered yet more evidence of the PSB’s ability to switch from wonderful GASbook frivolity to the heart-felt lyric: Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone. Marvin Gaye (How Sweet It Is), typical, welcome fayre, then to end the first set, a mega-pop hit – Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off – featuring James Harrison’s Teesside, as opposed to Harlem, stride piano playing. And would you believe it, Skerritt opened the second set with another huge chart success?! But wait…there was the little matter of the all-important interval raffle and your reviewer’s companion drew the winning ticket for one lucky Northumbrian jazz fan.

Those of a Postmodern Jukebox persuasion would have been up and onto the dance floor as Paul and the boys launched into their second set with Meghan Trainor’s global hit All About That Bass. Our frontman hit Ashington’s sweet spot singing the verse to Fly Me to the Moon (…in other words, baby, kiss me) then stood to one side, casually leaning Rat Pack-style on his mic stand, as the trio stretched out in swinging style. Sway, Orange Colored Sky, the Elephant’s audience lapped it up. Tom Chapman featured on I’m Beginning to See the Light – TC is on the list of top rate drummers working across the region and further afield. Skerritt kidded the band that he’d take The Lady is a Tramp at a ridiculous lick, counting them in: ‘Two, three four’ – only to relent, but, no mistake, they, were ready for it, but he was joking, neatly referring to himself as the ‘gentleman’ being the ‘tramp’ and, as if to prove a point, the trio briefly went double swing time – these boys can play, big time!

Time was pressing, and true to form, the Paul Skerritt Band obliged, finishing its set right on time with a stylish Puttin on the Ritz and the ‘having a good time’ closer Let the Good Times Roll.       
 Russell
 
            






            

1 comment :

Unknown said...

This evening was a wonderful tribute to the AJC in celebrating 36 years presenting great music from Jazz musicians in the North East.

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