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HOWAY THE LADS!

Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sat 15: Hot Teapots @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 15: Lagos to Longbenton + Belladonna @ Whitley Bay Big Social, Whitley Road, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Afrobeat/jazz fusion + soul/funk/R&B
Sat 15: Creakin’ Bones @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: Is This Jazz? @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk. Performances by Mu Quintet, Jinjé, A Brief Utopia, John Pope & Co + André Marmot (author of Unapologetic Expression: The Inside Story of the UK Jazz Explosion) in conversation + DJ sets ‘til 3:00am. ‘A Festival of New Jazz’.
Sat 15: Vintage Explosion @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 15: Alligator Gumbo @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Sat 15: One Night Standards @ The White Room, Stanley. 8:00pm. £8.67 (inc. bf). Note - previously advertised Salty Dogs cancelled.
Sat 15: Howlin’ Mat @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Blues guitar.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: Pearl Blossoms @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime.
Sun 16: Hot 8 Brass Band @ Wylam Brewery. 7:30pm. ‘Big Tuba Tour’.
Sun 16: ARQ @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Air4ce @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:30pm (8:00pm doors). £12.00.; £10.00. Tom Atkinson’s all-star band (line-up inc. Lindsay Hannon & Sue Ferris).
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Jamie Toms Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.
Tue 18: Phil Bancroft’s Beautiful Storm @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20 & £11.00.. A JNE-Gem Arts co-promotion.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

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

Saturday, June 30, 2018

That’s Life - The Frank Sinatra Story @ Whitley Bay Playhouse - June 29

Frank Cognoscenti  as Frank Sinatra; Stuart Collingwood (MD, piano); ? (trumpet); Jamie Toms (reeds); ? (trombone); Neil Harland (double bass); ? (drums).
(Review by Russell)
The early years, the Capitol years, Live at the Sands, the later years, the story of Francis Albert Sinatra. This multi-media theatre show is the creation of Sinatra fan Frank Cognoscenti. Working with an array of talented musicians (several of the north east’s finest answered Cognoscenti's call to join him on stage at Whitley Bay Playhouse), the show’s creator endeavours to recreate something of the magic associated with one of the iconic figures of the twentieth century.
Looking the part in a Rat Pack tuxedo, Cognoscenti apologised to the audience saying Mr Sinatra was unable to fulfil this evening’s engagement and he would do his level best as a last minute stand in. The twenty-first-century entertainer won over an adoring crowd from the word go. And ‘entertainer’ perfectly describes Mr C; the casual, nonchalant manner and, crucially, the voice to make you think, for a couple of hours or so, that Sinatra was in the house.
An on-stage screen projected images of Sinatra from his earliest days in Hoboken, initial success with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, then on to the career-defining Capitol years. Night and Day to I Only Have Eyes for You, the Las Vegas engagements, all the while Cognoscenti singing as convincingly as anyone is ever likely to, the sound of Sinatra was in the house.
The Mob and the women in Sinatra’s life – particularly Ava Gardner – were very much part of the story with Cognoscenti briefly exiting the stage from time to time as on-screen visuals were accompanied by a sonorous commentary documenting the many twists and turns, chapter upon chapter.
Cognoscenti/Sinatra in profile in front of a simple, plain board proved particularly effective (see photo). This was Sinatra in iconic pose, vintage mic stand, an imagined studio setting. Hey! Look, over there, in the wings, is that Nelson Riddle? I’ve Got the World on a String (by this time the audience couldn’t help but sing along!), Come Fly with Me, the numbers just kept on coming.

The on-stage sextet did everything required of it although it was never quite let off the leash, perhaps constrained to some extent by the use of strings (as heard on the original recordings). Several of the boys in the band used earpieces or headphones to ensure synchronicity with the soundtrack. Frank, that’s Mr Cognoscenti to you, is a fine interpreter of Francis Albert Sinatra. The next time That’s Life comes to town make sure you catch the show, you will be guaranteed a great night out.  
Russell                   

1 comment :

Patti said...

And what a night it was - wonderful ...... close your eyes, and it was Mr Blue Eyes singing! The band was great too, directed by Mr Piano Man, Stu Collingwood. Neil H was class in the rhythm section, and Jamie T was excellent! Maybe somebody will be able to give us the names of the trumpet and trombone guys??

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