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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

Saturday, February 09, 2019

Alan Barnes @ The Traveller's Rest, Darlington - Feb 8

Alan Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums)
(Review by Russell)

Opus 4 Jazz Club's February concert attracted a full house. And little wonder, with Alan Barnes on the premises! The hugely popular reeds virtuoso enjoys his annual visit to the Traveller's Rest and this Friday evening engagement, working once again with pianist and good friend Paul Edis, would prove to be no different. 

As Barnes announced the first number - Joy Spring - long-time supporter Dennis arrived, waving regally to one and all. Our guest star is a master of side-splitting one-liners, add straight man Dennis to the equation and you've got the makings of a memorable night of superb jazz and hilarious repartee. From alto on Clifford Brown's well-loved number - with a cheering audience behind him all the way - to the first of several baritone features on Time After Time, the evening was shaping up as a Gig of the Year contender. 

Jobim's late-fifties bossa A felicidade found Barnes switching to clarinet on a number which featured towering contributions from Edis and drummer Russ Morgan, the latter showing how it's done with brushes and hands, exemplary musicianship. More clarinet on In a Sentimental Mood* with scribbled notes referring to Edis' 'perfect' solo and a further note - 'wow!' - pertaining to Andy Champion's imperious bass playing. 

The interval: a dash to the downstairs' bar, the queue a mile long. On the tv, Aston Villa 0 Sheffield United 3, with little more than fifteen minutes to go, game over.** Another pint of Young's more than acceptable American-style IPA, the raffle, better luck next time, then back to Mr A Barnes with the Paul Edis Trio. 

Cole Porter's Everything I Love, replete with quotes, resumed matters with Opus 4's guest once again grappling with his baritone sax. Sticking with the big beast, Barnes and co-found themselves On Green Dolphin Street. No strolling here, this was an eyeballs-out sprint to the finish. Absolutely brilliant, the journey from Newcastle had been more than worthwhile...as if it had been in any doubt!

In suggesting Detox Ahead as an alternative title to Johnny Frigo's Detour Ahead, Barnes mused, for a nanosecond, on the possibility of a detox before summarily dismissing such a nonsensical idea!  
    
Cedar Walton recorded Bolivia with Bob Berg, Sam Jones and Billy Higgins. Well, here in the Cockerton suburb of Darlington, Messrs Barnes, Edis, Champion and Morgan were more than a match for the illustrious Americans. To close a memorable evening Barnes conducted a straw poll. By popular demand, a blues won out. The late-night journey home was a 'cloud nine' affair. 

* Earlier in the day Barnes listened to a recording of Lucky Thompson on alto playing In a Sentimental Mood and decided to include Ellington's number in the evening's set list.

** Three Aston Villa goals in the last eight minutes secured an unlikely point for the home team. 
Russell

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