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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 ...

April 2025.

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: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

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

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

We Won! APPJAG Awards @ Pizza Express, Holborn - Oct. 16

When it was announced that BSH had won the Jazz Media category of the APPJAG awards I was lost for words although I did eventually manage some garbled phrases in my Peroni inspired speech of acceptance. I think it was videoed - watch this space. I was, and still am, overwhelmed by this most prestigious of UK jazz awards.  However, in reality,  this wasn't just for me but for, as Hugh C put it,  Team Bebop. When I saw the list of nominees in the various categories, the only name I didn't recognise was mine!
So thanks to all of you who made this marvellous evening possible.

This wasn't a vote for individuals but a vote for an art form we are all deeply passionate about. A friend of mine remarked that it might be a good idea if the APPJAG members replaced  The Cabinet, pointing out that politics, like jazz, is all about improvisation. This brought to mind the famous quote from Colin MacInnes' book 'Absolute Beginners' where the hero remarks that his ideal government would include Johnny Dankworth blowing Foreign Secretary.
Apart from the awards which I will highlight soon in the previous post, there was an outstanding performance by the house band for the evening which comprised  Alison Rayner, her band ARQ was an award winner in the Jazz Ensemble category, on bass, sensational Sophie Alloway on drums, Henry Lowther, still top bop+ trumpet player, Fraser  Smith on alto - Cannonball meets Hodges - and leader Max Brittain on guitar. Great sound.
So, thanks again.
Love you madly!
Lance
(Photo courtesy of Steve Crocker)
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4 comments :

Liz said...

Words fail me, as I said in a private message Lance, probably one of the best nights of your life...all your hard work, dedication and amazing knowledge, imparted over the years to those of us who follow jazz, is a truly wondrous and generous gift from you to us..now recognised from the very highest in the business...be proud!

Martin Hummel said...

Congratulations, Lance. Well done and much deserved! Good to meet you finally last night.
Best wishes, Martin

Anonymous said...

To The Right Honourable Member for Bebop

What an accolade! and still the blog founding editor and chief correspondent produces a review.

And so BSH marches on - fantastic!

JC

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Lance and all the team. So thoroughly deserved. Fantastic.
Roly

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