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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

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, October 04, 2018

Take it to the Bridge - Remembering Barrie Ascroft @ The Globe - Oct. 3.

Dave Weisser (cornet/vocals); Nigel ? (flugel); Jude Murphy (alto/flute/vocals/piano); Rachel Richman, Cormac Loane, A.N. Other (altos); ?  (soprano); Bernie Ranson (tenor); Roy Stephenson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Dave Parker (bass); John Bradford (drums).
(Review by Lance).
There was an empty feeling as the piano was ominously silent whilst the band set up. Dave Weisser shared photos and memories of Barrie Ascroft and more than a few hugs were shared as they prepared for the opener - appropriately titled Mr. Rascal. Composed by the late Barrie it's a catchy theme. Jude played piano (is there any instrument this lady doesn't play?) until Alan Law arrived and took over.
Eleven musicians kicked off. Some I knew and some I didn't but all sincere and determined to do Barrie's memory proud. It became twelve with the arrival of Cormac Loane who had drawn accolades at Monkseaton on Tuesday and did likewise today.
However, although Take it to the Bridge is part jam session and part workshop, this wasn't a cutting contest but rather a group of like-minded individuals working together as a team and, as such, to single out individuals would be unfair. Suffice to say that Barrie would have been proud to see the show going on and, in Alan Law, couldn't have had a better dep.
Apart from Mr. Rascal we had Caravan; Nuages; Love For Sale (vocals from both Jude and Dave Weisser on this one) a riff-laden version of Ornithology (bop vocal from Jude); a piece based on Trane's Lonnie's Lament and Night and Day (more vocal magic).
It may not seem a lot of tunes but with 11/12 soloists per number, there was hardly time for much more.
A poignant and yet enjoyable evening.
Lance
PS: Photo of Barrie (top right) sent to me by Jude.

6 comments :

Peter Gilligan (On F/b) said...

Rip. Barrie ( Baz) Ascroft, great bloke, great player, and hugely supportive to me. X

Eric Stutt (on F/b). said...

RIP Barrie. Great Bloke great Musician will be missed.

Laurie Brown (on F/b). said...

A great talent RIP Barrie.

Jude Murphy (on F/b). said...

Glad you were there to share the vibe, Lance. An odd night, knowing the space at the centre of it, but still enjoyable

Robert Laing (on F/b). said...

A nicer bloke you will never meet.

Rach said...

i took that photo of Baz and sent it to Jude. From 2 years ago. Rare picture of him smiling

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