Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 2026)

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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

From This Moment On

August

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms - January 25

Maureen Hall (vocals); Jim McBriarty (clarinet, vocals); Don Fairley (trombone); Malcolm Armstrong (keyboards); George Davidson (drums, vocals) + Doris Fenn (banjolele)
(Review by Russell)

Jazz Street that's Monkseaton's Front Street. The Ship Inn, lunchtime Tuesday, there is jazz, it is hoped a monthly Sunday session will soon resume at the Black Horse, and every Friday,  come hail or come bright winter sunshine, Maureen Hall's Rendezvous Jazz can be found at the Monkseaton Arms.
 
As usual, all seats were occupied as singer Maureen Hall called the boys over from the bar for the band's regular one o'clock start. Give Me Your Telephone Number for starters. Hall followed up with a vocal number - You Belong to Me - assisted by excellent support from the band; Jim McBriarty, clarinet, playing his final gig with the band before heading off to pastures new, trombonist Don Fairley playing as well as ever, Malcolm Armstrong on top of it all playing keyboards, and the man at the back, singing drummer George Davidson.


Don Fairley in Teagarden mode featured on A Hundred Years from Today - a class act is Mr Fairley. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone pleaded Hall as your scribe went to the bar to replenish a glass with - it couldn't be anything other on the day Fuller's Brewery sold up for £250m - another London Pride. The raffle came and went, pub meals were polished off and in no time Rendezvous Jazz returned for a second set.
Ah, yes, the second set - by tradition, the great Doris Fenn joined the band. Banjo, no a banjolele, is Fenn's chosen instrument. It's a Long Way to Tipperary sang Davidson, Hall sang Dream (one of the highlights of the afternoon), the band ripped through Swing That Music, later they told us about Martha and as the three o'clock finish approached Hall made a call to Dr. Jazz.     

Next week (Friday, February 1) with Jim McBriarty gone and Don Fairley away for a few days, bandleader Hall has drafted in a couple of handy deps - Mr Mick Hill, trumpet and Mr Neville Hartley, trombone. So, another good session is on the cards, one o'clock sharp.    
Russell.

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