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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.

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.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. 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, June 29, 2018

Football? What football? The SSBB @ The Millstone - June 28


(Review by Russell)
Air conditioning? What air conditioning? Football? Is there a match on? Manager Southgate made eight changes to the Ingerlund eleven, SSBB MD Lamb made no more than half a dozen changes to the 17. Yes, just the seventeen tonight at the Millstone, band vocalists Alice and F’reez were given the night off so that they could watch the football.
At this regular public rehearsal session, MD Michael Lamb rang the changes. Would the substitutes do enough to impress the gaffer? Those off the bench included Matt Forster playing alto and Boys of Brass drummer Dave Mckeague. A varied pad, including early pacesetters Point of Departure and Herman’s Apple Honey set the standard, would the pace slacken? Splanky just splendid, a big band arrangement of Lady be Good added colour and, closing out a stamina-sapping first forty-five, Johnny Richards’ Two Cultures.  
Early in the second half, Ingerlund were up against it (score updates courtesy of KP’s live streaming, via mobile phone, in the trombone section).* Here at the Millstone, alto dep Matt Forster played a blinder. A tenor/bass clarinet man, Forster blew away the opposition with some breathtaking alto saxophone. The northeast is fortunate to have heard some great alto players of late, add the name M Forster to the list! Oh, the tune…Jay Craig’s Okay with Jay. Scandinavian big band man Jacob Mann is a favourite of the SSBB and MD Lamb called Kogi. One of the impressive things about the SSBB is its ability to adapt to any chart, from Basie swing to contemporary compositions, and Mann’s chart held few fears.
A 1950s Bill Holman arrangement of Dancing Nitely for Maynard Ferguson set up a triple helping of the powerhouse trumpeter’s work culminating in a take on Benny Golson’s Whisper Not. Another from Stan Kenton staffer Johnny Richards (Rendezvous at Sunset), and to finish, Part One of Chris Walden’s Film Noir Suite. Next one at the Millstone – seven o’clock, July 26, followed by a prestigious concert at this year’s Ushaw Jazz Festival over the August bank holiday weekend featuring a very special guest, big band leader, and flautist, Gareth Lockrane.
Russell.
* Several years ago Sebastiaan de Krom played a gig at Newcastle City Hall during the European Football Championships with a portable TV on stage to watch his beloved Holland.  

SSBB: Michael Lamb MD, Elliott Todd, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey trumpets; Mark Ferris, Kieran Parnaby, David Barnes, Tom Dowling trombones; Jamie Toms, Paul Gowland, Steve Summers, Matt Forster, Laurie Rangecroft saxophones;  Pawel Jedrzejewski guitar; Graham Don piano; Michael Whent bass: Dave Mckeague drums.

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