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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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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.

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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