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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 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: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

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

Tue 25: ?

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: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde 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: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ 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

Monday, October 29, 2018

Preview: Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party @ The Village Hotel, North Tyneside November 2-4

(Preview by Russell).
Over many years trumpet player Mike Durham established the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival as the pre-eminent 'classic jazz' era festival this side of the Atlantic. In his memory, Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party continues to lead the way with a galaxy of American, British and European jazz musicians descending annually on North Tyneside. This year's festival begins at noon on Friday (Nov 2) at the Village Hotel and runs non-stop through to late on Sunday. 

FRIDAY

Fittingly, the opening session - Tribute to Mike - stomps off with ace American trumpeter Duke Heitger leading an Anglo-American small group (12 noon). From there on in it's a fast and furious schedule of half hour or one-hour sets featuring a dazzling array of talent. 

Friday alone sees seven sets during the afternoon with a further five evening sets and then there is a late night jam session going on into the early hours! Every set is top class, but try these for example; 
Jack Pettis - Forgotten Saxophone Player looks at the work of John Baber 'Jack' Pettis in the 1920s. Aussie Michael McQuaid (reeds) heads a line-up including first time American CJP visitor Dan Levinson (reeds) and local hero tuba man Phil Rutherford. 
Jean Goldkette - After Bix is drummer Josh Duffee's affectionate tip-of-the-hat to the Goldkette band post-Beiderbecke. 
Americans in Paris surveys the French capital's 1930s jazz scene. American pianist David Boeddinghaus directs an all-European cast including the brilliant young French trumpeter Malo Mazurie, Matthias Seuffert (reeds) alongside the wonderful vocalist Nicolle Rochelle.

It's eleven at night. You're still standing? Right, make your way into the hotel's Victory Pub for a late night jam session!

SATURDAY

Wakey! Wakey! The CD stall is open for business from 10am. Alright, have a lie-in, but not too late as the action resumes at noon. 

Morten Gunnar-Larsen's Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra worked with Eubie Blake. Here at the Village Hotel, the Norwegian pianist enlists the help of some of his fellow CJP participants to revisit those far off days. Jamie Brownfield (trumpet) and Richard Exall (reeds) are but two of the conscripts (on parade at 1pm). 
At two o'clock maestro Keith Nichols asks the question - What would Buddy Bolden's Band sound like? Good question! Andy Schumm (cornet) is but one who'll try to come up with an answer.   

Saturday's evening session offers five sets before you retire to the Victory Pub for another jam session (11pm). 
At eight o'clock Chicago Clarinets pays tribute to Dodds, Noone, Simeon and Russell. Andy Schumm and Matthias Seuffert lead, the ebullient Ewan Bleach (reeds), Duke Heitger (trumpet) and an ace rhythm section, fall in. 
At ten, Claus Jacobi takes a look at Ellington in the 30s. Brownfield, Heitger and Mazurie sit in the trumpet section, genial American 'bone man Jim Fryer plays his part, Nick Ward occupies the drum stool and Ms Rochelle sings. 

SUNDAY

Yes, you've guessed it...Wakey! Wakey! The CD stall will take your hard-earned from ten, and Andy Schumm (comb) will scrub up, with a neat parting in his hair, at noon to recreate the sound (and look!) of Red McKenzie in a Mound City Blue Blowers' set. 
At 1pm, stand by...The History of Hot Drumming will do what it says on the tin. Four virtuosi - Messrs. Richard Pite, Nicholas D Ball, Nick Ward and Josh Duffee - could steal the show with this set, and, for good measure, Enrico Tomasso (trumpet) is in on it. 

A half-hour set at 9:30pm - Spat's Band - will prove, once and for all, if proof were needed, that the banjo, in the hands of Spats Langham, is a bona fide jazz instrument. Our other local star, Emma Fisk (violin), sits-in. 
The grand finale to the 2018 Classic Jazz Party is a real set-piece affair. The Nichols-Duffee Chick Webb Orchestra will pay homage to drummer Chick Webb, and who better to do so than the brilliant Josh Duffee? Another all-star line-up, what a way to end a fabulous weekend of jazz! 

Oh, yes, don't go just yet, there is a third and final late night jam session in the Victory Pub.  

For tickets email: wbjazzfest@btinternet.com

Weekend ticket: £160
Day ticket: £55  

The Village Hotel is conveniently situated just off the A19, bus no. 309 from Haymarket, Newcastle stops outside the venue, and bus no. 19 serves Northumberland Park Metro station.           

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