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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

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.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

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: 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.

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, August 23, 2018

Jam session @ The Dun Cow, Jesmond - August 22

(Review/photos by Russell)
The house trio set-up in good time as Brandling Park jam session regulars bagged prime seats ahead of the eight o'clock downbeat. It's taken a while but the signs are good, audience numbers are slowly but surely increasing and with next month's influx of students - both freshers and old hands - the future looks bright for the fortnightly session.  

Things started relatively sanely given that the irrepressible James Harrison led the session. When the Teessider is in town anything can happen. Yardbird Suite set the measure, would anyone be brave enough to get up and give it a go? Step forward Kevin Green toting a soprano sax. A measured Night and Day did no harm and the self-confessed 'am jammer' will return, one hopes, with any lingering nerves banished. 
Kay Usher is a regular participant at this Jesmond session and a brace of tunes - I Can't Give You Anything but Love and My Little Suede Shoes - kept the pot boiling. Harrison quipped: Next victim please! Well, the next 'victim' was to give as good as he got. Jimmy Jefford was in town and set about blazing an alto bop trail before taking it down on In a Sentimental Mood. He would return.

Andrea Harrison and Lisa Delarny teamed up with electric bassist Rob Walker and ace drummer Paul Grainger. What's that? Has your correspondent been drinking? No, bottled water, m'Laud. Yes, drummer Rob Walker swapped roles with PG to accompany vocalist Andrea and rhythm guitarist Lisa on What a Difference a Day Makes and, with a quick change around, Harrison J (aka a piano player) getting behind the traps on Marvin Gaye's communal anthem What's Going On as Jefford belatedly returned to the action. Confused? You could have been if you'd just wandered in off the street! See photos...

Who else was around? They were propping up the bar. Niffi Osiyemi next up with It Don't Mean a Thing followed by Jazz Co-oper Jen Errington dipping in to the GASbook to sing I Thought About You. Pianist, bassist and drummer had resumed their rightful roles as the action hotted up. Tenor man John Rowland parked his bicyclette outside, stepping inside to accompany, alongside Strictly Smokin' trumpet-playing MD Michael Lamb, the one-and-only Alice Grace! Lullaby of Birdland...honestly, simply sublime. Another one from AG...Lerner and Loewe's On the Street Where You Live from My Fair Lady. Our Fair Lady, Ms Grace wowed the audience with Michael Lamb's solo being marked down as solo of the night, no question.

Talking of Fair Ladies...Lindsay Hannon arrived in time for a fine finale with a typically personal take on Billie's God Bless the Child (superb piano playing by Harrison). Every which way this week's jam session proved to be the best yet. 
Russell
James Harrison (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass, drums); Rob Walker (drums, bass guitar) + Kevin Green (soprano sax); Kay Usher (violin); Jimmy Jefford (alto sax); Andrea Harrison (vocals); Lisa Delarny (guitar); Niffi Osiyemi (vocals); Jen Errington (vocals); John Rowland (tenor sax); Michael Lamb (trumpet); Alice Grace (vocals); Lindsay Hannon (vocals)     

1 comment :

Russell said...

George Sykes - George, please accept my apologies for omitting your name and failing to mention your as usual excellent contribution to Wednesday's Dun Cow jam session.I offer no excuse other than incompetence!

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