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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.

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. 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.

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, December 02, 2018

Jambone @ St James' & St Basil's Church, Newcastle - Dec 1

(Review by Russell)

A Jambone concert is always worth getting along to. It's a chance to gauge the development of the band and spot potential star performers of tomorrow. The weather had been rather unkind all day yet a good number made the effort to support Sage Gateshead's youth jazz orchestra.

Seven pieces were in the programme; five compositions by Jambone's MD Paul Edis and the MD's arrangements of two well-known tunes. Edis' Sunny Blues - a world premiere, said Edis - introduced a number of soloists to the J's & B's audience; Jack Pearce, alto sax, Ferg Kilsby, trumpet, Sue Ferris*, baritone sax, Graham Hardy*, trumpet, and drummer Maeve Thorpe. 

The World is Never Still thought Edis, so, he wrote a tune about the matter. Vocalist Emily McDermott led off (think Norma Winstone) closely followed by Zak Parlby's tenor solo, flautist Megan Robinson (a senior member of the orchestra these days!) and fearless young trumpeter Ferg Kilsby. 

Lullaby of Birdland (arr. Edis) featured Emily's crystal clear singing, Zak and Ferg soloed once more with Maeve confidently handling an exchange of fours with the band's sections. Embrace the Silence (comp. Edis) challenged the young musicians and they coped remarkably well from the off; from bassist Alex Shipsey's bowed intro to the flutes of Megan and section partner Imogen Davies-Pugh through to further solos by Zak and Ferg.

What 15 Feels Like is a companion piece to What 13 Feels Like. As MD Edis explained, the title alludes to the time signature and, perhaps, what it feels like to be 13, or, in this case, 15 and the teenage angst that goes with the territory. A tricky time signature perhaps, but, as Edis said, the idea was to challenge the Jamboners. During a residential weekend earlier in the year the band worked on the piece without the dots and this evening's performance in Fenham sparkled with a sense of freedom as first Haaruun Miller blew fearsome clarinet, Megan then ripping into it before guitarist Tom Henery cranked it up big style. 

We were yet to hear from Fabio de Sousa. Edis' When I Was Young was the trombonist's opportunity and he took it. He's been known to sit-in at jam sessions so, flanked by Sue Ferris to his left and Graham Hardy to his right, he wasn't about to be phased by the occasion and he wasn't.  

To close Jambone's set, something seasonal...We Three Kings. Graham Hardy blew, and, for the first time, pianist Edgar Ho, showed what he could do. This Saturday evening concert, facilitated by Sage Gateshead's Young Musicians Programme, should be considered a success every which way - young musicians gained performance experience (for some it was a debut performance!), receiving applause for their efforts would be a boost to their confidence and, in sharing a platform with Hardy and Ferris, gain an insight to the everyday working life of the professional musician.   

Jambone: Haarun Miller, Zak Parlby, Jack Pearce, Sue Ferris (reeds); Ferg Kilsby, Graham Hardy (trumpets); Fabio de Sousa (trombone); Imogen Davies-Pugh, Megan Robinson (flutes); Tom Henery (guitar); Edgar Ho (piano); Alex Shipsey (double bass/ bass guitar); Maeve Thorpe (drums); Emily McDermott (vocals); Paul Edis (MD).                

Earlier in the evening, Paul Edis sat at J's and B's Kawai piano to play Young at Heart. Jambone's MD invited Graham Hardy to join him in a spirited In Walked Bud followed by an Edis-Sue Ferris duo performance of Stardust. Ferris' extended baritone solo proved to be a major highlight. Finally, as a trio, Edis, Hardy and Ferris romped through St Thomas
Russell. 

Paul Edis (piano); Graham Hardy (trumpet); Sue Ferris (baritone sax)

* Graham Hardy and Sue Ferris kindly assisted Paul Edis in bolstering the under-strength orchestra. Jambone would welcome enquiries from those wishing to join the region's leading youth jazz orchestra. For further information email: youngmusicians@sagegateshead.com 


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