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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.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
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.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

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. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. 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.

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, November 28, 2018

Jam Session @ The Black Swan - Nov. 27

(Review by Lance).

James Birkett is rarely seen on the jam session circuit but, tonight, he was part of the house trio and much appreciated by a decent turnout despite the atrocious weather and a couple of competing events at Sage Gateshead and the Bridge Hotel. 

As always, on these occasions there were highs and lows but, whatever, all taken in good spirit by players and listeners alike.

Stu Finden toted a gleaming baritone sax to great effect on Stella by Starlight and Yardbird Suite whilst Mrs Finden sang You Go to my Head with Mr Finden helping out on double bass. A little more volume on the mic would have helped the vocal. No such problems for Niffi who worked out on Do Nothin' Till You Hear From me and Let's Call the Whole Thing Off.


Always a pleasure to have Martin Waugh on piano. In deference, perhaps, to James Birkett who'd early played Django's Castle, he chose Nuages and there was some delightful interplay between the two. Later, he played a tune so familiar, it bugged me all night and it wasn't until I was homeward bound in a taxi* that I had my Eureka! moment - Stranger on the Shore.
Jeremy McMurray played piano behind John Rowland for What is This Thing Called Love? taken at rush hour tempo and a more sedate version of Sonny Rollins' Doxy. For some reason, I always think of this as a Monk tune - don't know why. 

Tenor and baritone had a blast on Tenor Madness then slowed things down for Tenderly - John Rowland played a nice cadenza at the end.

David Gray arrived in sartorial splendour and blew some triple tongued pyrotechnics on (pause) was it Cantaloupe Island or The Chicken or Milestones? Whatever, he lived up to his "Showtime" moniker. 

There were other songs that I may have overlooked and possibly other players such as the young keyboard player who, I think, needs a little more time in the woodshed...
No such prerequisites needed for Mo or Archie on drums who kept things a-swinging.

The finale had the whole gang up front with Fi providing the words to Bernie's Tune with Stu in Gerry Mulligan mode. Martin again on piano and, the only disappointment of the night, he didn't sing. Talking of which, Ray Burns sat in the wings with his accordion primed but they never even made it to the stage. 
Still, it was yet another enjoyable evening up "The Swannee".
Lance.
*The fact I hung on and went home by taxi rather than bus or metro is an indication as to how good a night it was (or how bad the weather was!)

James Birkett (guitar); Paul Grainger (bass); Russ Morgan (drums) + Stu Finden (baritone sax/bass); John Rowland (tenor sax); Martin Waugh, Jeremy McMurray, Brandon? (pianos);  Hazem Mohammed, Archie Williamson (drums); Niffi Osiyemi, Fiona Finden (vocals).

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