Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

1803759 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 480 of them this year alone and, so far, 58 this month (June 18).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sat 21: Jason Holcomb Jazz Ensemble @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 5:30-7:30pm. Free. A 'Sunderland Year of Music' event.
Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

Thu 26: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Brass Instruments & the use of mutes.

Fri 27: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Time After Time’.

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, October 19, 2018

Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra Jam Session @ Bar Loco - October 18

NUJO's first jam session of the new academic year and the place was crammed. A battalion of bright young things drinking like there was no tomorrow, sorry, studying hard (see photo of a study desk inexplicably littered with empties), this was a 'social' as much as a jazz gig.  

President Tom McDonald has knocked the NUJO boys and girls into some kind of shape so that they broadly resemble a big band. 

Enthusiasm by the bucket load, trombonist Tom and bandmate Matt Green whipped up Bar Loco's partying crowd and counted in the ever-changing band line-up. 

Lullaby of Birdland, former Jamboner Kate Garnett bold as a shiny brass trombone on My Funny Valentine, a debuting vocalist emboldened by a bottle of house white singing Billy Taylor's I Wish I Knew, NUJO blew for fun in a fun, party atmosphere.


Jam session man about town, guitarist James Cuxson, impressed once again, making himself heard above the din of the party-going audience on Blue Monk and again on So What having been joined by bassist Ifede Osiyemi, last spotted gigging with the Bold Big Band. Osiyemi hit a groove - most impressive. 
An impressive two-trombone opening to Autumn Leaves won applause from the multitasking crowd (drinking/laughing/chattering/listening...most impressive!) and before long alto saxophonist Matt suggested a short interval. 

Second set...what a surprise, Matt Green, alto sax, sang! Fly Me to the Moon sang Matt, perhaps as good a vocalist as an alto player! Chameleon went round and round, a seriously funky Superstition featured just about everybody including a  rather good, no- time-to-take-off-his-coat clarinetist, which morphed into an Uptown Funk groove. 

The 2018-19 NUJO line-up is looking good (trumpeter Tom Alcorn, heard at the Dun Cow, is one to watch). The band will be entered into next year's Great North Big Band Jazz Festival (it always is) and will be sure to give a good account of itself, if not make the podium. Further jam sessions will occur during the year, do get along to check on the undergraduates' progress.  
Russell.    

No comments :

Blog Archive