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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

17985(and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 306 of them this year alone and, so far, 62 this month (April 26).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: International Jazz Day @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £16.00.; £14.00. adv.. Feat. Guido Spannocchi, John Pope & Steve Hanley + Take it to the Bridge participants + Open Mic Night participants.

MAY 2025

Thu 01: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Member’s Contribution.
Thu 01: Alabaster de Plume @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 01: Living in Shadows + OUTRI @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: The Shayo Experiment @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Shayo Oshodi & Liam Oliver.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ STACK, Seaburn. 4:30-6:15pm. Free.
Fri 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:00pm. £7.50. A ‘Nauta’s House’ gig featuring Nauta & guests Shayo Oshodi & David Gray.
Fri 02: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 02: Dom Pipkin @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Solo piano.
Fri 02: Abbie Finn Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00. + bf.

Sat 03: Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Summer Samba Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 03: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Postmodern Jukebox @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Sat 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £3.00. + bf.
Sat 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:30pm. Free.

Sun 04: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 04: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 04: Ben Crosland Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

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

Sunday, November 04, 2018

Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party 2018 @ Village Hotel, Cobalt Business Park, Newcastle (ish) - November 4.

(Review by Lance)
Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party rose, Phoenix-like from the ashes of the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival which, due to funding issues, finished some 20 years after its 1990 beginning. However, trumpet playing leader of the West Jesmond Rhythm Kings, Mike Durham didn't allow this to deter him. Inspired by the various 'jazz parties' in America such as the legendary bash held in Denver Colorado, under Mike's guidance, the Classic Jazz Party came about. Over the years it has seen many famous names, not least Daryl Sherman and Cecile McLorin Salvant (pictured here w. Jean Francois Bonnel) who performed a memorable duo set a few years back.


Sadly, Mike passed on but his wife, Patti, made sure that he wasn't forgotten by ensuring that this, surely the best celebration of classic jazz, and with the help of Keith Nicholls and a dedicated team of helpers, continued in his name.

This year I was only able to grab a few sessions but what sessions they were!
Joan Viskant's Let's Misbehave celebrated those twenties flapper girls such as Ruth Etting and Elsie Carlisle. Dressed appropriately, Joan won everyone's hearts with her renditions that, amazingly didn't sound at all dated. For 30 glorious minutes, she'd taken us back in time and, I guess so many of us wished we could stay. Actually, this wasn't a problem as the whole weekend is a glorious cocoon of that time between the wars when all that many folks had was music from the radio. No bread or employment but great music.

Joan was backed up by a choice selection of the CJP regulars including Emma Fisk whose playing of Florian Zabach' s Hot Canary was the perfect intro to My Canary's Got Circles Under His Eyes. I seem to remember George Melly used to milk this one.

Jeff Barnhart is the life and soul of any party - as was Fats Waller. Combine the two and you have the perfect recipe to get the joint jumpin'. Rather than play safe with the old favourites he introduced the audience to some little-known Waller compositions - every one a gem!

Of course, any jazz festival/party worth its salt has a big band and this one didn't fall short! Goldkette, Goodman, Ellington, Coon-Saunders, Chick Webb and, the one I caught - Fletcher Henderson.

Was this a success? You betcha! The advance inquiries for next year were hitting the tray so fast they ran out of forms!

But, this isn't just about the music - although it wouldn't happen without it - it's a reunion of friends drawn together by their mutual love of the jazz from another era. This also poses the question - is it a past era or the dawn of a new era? If only...
Lance.
PS: As I was leaving, I managed this shot of some of the guys. I can name two of them but I'd like to namecheck the other two.

1 comment :

Russell said...

Photo - four names (left to right)...David Boeddinghaus (piano), Josh Duffee (drums), Matthias Seuffert (reeds), Andy Schumm (cornet).

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