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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.

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.

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.

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

Monday, January 28, 2019

Musicians Unlimited @ The Park Inn, Hartlepool - Jan 27

(Review by Russell).

A bitterly cold wind blew through Hartlepool this afternoon. Head down, bent double, Scott of the Antarctic surely didn't encounter conditions such as these. The Park Inn came into view, a welcome sight if ever there was one. 

Mick Donnelly's Musicians Unlimited were busy setting up as the regulars arrived to claim their usual seats. A pint of Marston's 61 Deep Pale Ale (3.8) looked the pick and so it proved...
Frank Loesser's Brotherhood of Man opened the programme with ace trumpeters Kevin Eland and Bill Watson laying down early markers. Teesside's premier big band had a number of big hitters in the ranks with all sections sounding just fine as several featured soloists stepped up to the plate. It had been a while since Bebop Spoken Here had caught up with Mick Donnelly's outfit and on this Sunday afternoon a new name - new to BSH - made a big impression. Vocalist Jan Spencelayh sang Don't Know Why. A lower register, measured delivery, Jan is one to hear again, that's for sure! 
MD Donnelly leafed through the pad (seemingly several hundred numbers in a well-thumbed book!) and plucked out Gershwin - Someone to Watch Over Me featuring our talented vocalist - and a couple from Cole Porter - My Heart Belongs to Daddy and You Do Something to Me - Jan featuring once more, with Mark Toomey, playing clarinet, sharing the limelight on the latter. 

Bill Watson impressed, as did 'bone man Keith Norris, on the second set opener Jersey Bounce (a war-time smash hit for Benny Goodman). Old Devil Moon sang Jan - great stuff! - followed by some serious blowing on High Maintenance as Mick Shoulder swapped bull fiddle for electric bass, Toomey and Watson once more caught the ear as Sue Ferris, baritone sax, and Peter Morgan, bass trombone, charted a safe passage through Gordon Goodwin's turbulent big band number. And that was about it, but not quite. MD Mick Donnelly remarked that it had been about a year since the band last played One O'clock Jump. This was terrific stuff, it had been worth the wait! The Park Inn, Hartlepool, Sundays, one o'clock, Musicians Unlimited...it all adds up to a canny day out.   
Russell. 
Musicians Unlimited: Mick Donnelly MD; Kevin Eland, Bill Watson, Bob Temple, Alan Catherall (trumpets); Keith Norris, Caroline Norris, Helen Grainger, Peter Morgan (trombones); Josh Bentham, Dan Johnson, Mark Toomey, Barbara Fagan, Sue Ferris (reeds); Ian Bosworth (guitar); Gary Hadley (keyboards); Mick Shoulder (double bass, bass guitar); John Bradford (drums); Ernie Jackson (percussion); Jan Spencelayh (vocals)
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1 comment :

Unknown said...

Followed Mick for years.We are fortunate in having this band in Hartlepool.Only jazz available unfortunately.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019 3:21:00 pm

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