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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.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. 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.

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.

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, October 20, 2018

Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender 2018: Beats & Pieces @ Middlesbrough Town Hall - October 19

(Review by Lance).
After hearing the Mingus Big Band at Ronnie's on Wednesday, I hope I can be forgiven for feeling that nothing could follow that until this coming Sunday when the American ensemble brings the MJW to a close.
However, it is fair to say that the Manchester-based outfit, Beats & Pieces who opened the weekend, produced a scintillating performance that set the benchmark for all the bands who follow.

Ben Cottrell has, over the years, whipped up a crew that holds a candle to no one. His arrangements and compositions are as imaginative as those by any of his contemporaries. 


There were only two visible music stands, one for baritone saxist Burkhardt – a relative newcomer – indicating that they’ve either played them so many times that they could play them in their sleep or, and I think this is more likely, a lot of them are head arrangements fashioned over time from Cottrell's initial scores by the intuitive playing of the sections.
Most likely, a bit of both. Whatever, the end result is effective.

The moods change, not just from piece to piece but within the composition itself so you can be hearing a funereal chorus that, almost imperceptibly, morphs into a frantic free-for-all then, with the tension at a post-orgasmic high it stops. For a second or two, nobody applauds until it dawns upon them that the piece has ended. A kind of musical coitus interruptus.

I'm not going to single out individual musicians as each contributed to the overall picture both as soloists and section members. Although one of the many highlights that can't go without mention was the unaccompanied trombone trio blast with all three sliders playing a wild, contrapuntal, no holds barred, battle royal where there were no losers.

As befits a relatively young band various effects were incorporated, delays, sustains, reverbs and what-have-yous that produced an occasional surreal effect that didn't hurt at all.
What did hurt for some of us sitting at the front was the piercing lighting effects (see pic. by Russell) that detracted rather than enhanced the music and one of our worthy constituents, not Russell, did complain. I guess it's because I belong to an age where the music spoke for itself which, with B & P, certainly applies.
Despite that small reservation, it was a knockout evening that should have had half the population of Middlesborough crammed into the magnificently renovated building.
As it was, they didn't, perhaps they'd all gone to Sheffield to see The Boro beat Wednesday on a Friday.
Lance.
Setlist
1) Jazzwalk
2) Three
3) Toan (the first ever number the band played at its first rehearsal)
4) Let's Dance (David Bowie)
5) Pop
6) Nois 
7) Rain
8) Broken
9) Banger
Encore
10) Fairytale
11) Hendo
Ben Cottrell (MD & guitar); Anthony Brown (tenor/soprano); Ollie Dover (alto/  soprano); Emily Burkhardt (baritone); Nick Walters, Owen Bryce, Graham South  (trumpets); Richard Foote, Simon Lodge (trombones); Richard McVeigh (bass  trombone); Anton Hunter (guitar); Richard Jones (piano/Nord); Stewart Wilson (bass); Finlay Panter (drums).

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