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Bebop Spoken There

Xhosa Cole: ''Monk was unapologetically himself". (Jazzwise, February 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

17744 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 64 of them this year alone and, so far, 64 this month (Jan. 26).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

Fri 31: Alan Barnes Quartet @ The Old Library, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 12 noon-2:00pm (two sets). £12.00. admission (card or cash at the door). Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums). Note change of venue, no longer at Mrs M’s as advertised, the concert will be in the Old Library (Bishop Auckland Jazz’s regular venue). Important! It’s a ‘BYOB’ arrangement - ie bring your own booze (and/or tea, coffee, soft drinks).
Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Café Orkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:00pm. ‘Klezmer, Gypsy Jazz, Balkan & More!’.
Fri 31: Nothing in Rambling @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £10.00. + bf. Country blues duo.
Fri 31 Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Wylam Institute. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £15.00. + £1.50. bf.
Fri 31: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £10.00 + bf. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.
Fri 31: Alan Barnes Quartet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00 Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 31: SwanNek + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. SwanNek’s new single launch gig. Pilgrim, formerly Hoochie Coochie.
Fri 31: King Bees @ Blues Underground; Nelson St., Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

February 2025

Sat 01: Alan Barnes & John Hallam with the Tom Kincaid Trio @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - Cy Coleman’s Witchcraft. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 01: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 01: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Rockin’ Turner Brothers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Western swing etc.

Sun 02: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 02: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 02: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free (donations).
Sun 02: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 02: Jive Aces @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:00pm. Sun 02: John Pope + Andy Champion + Ian Paterson @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Subterranean Explorations 1’. Three (half hour) solo bass sets.
Sun 02: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 03: Andy Watt & Dan Rogers @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance. Jazz, blues, folk etc.
Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 04: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.
Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Phillips, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.
Tue 04: Dilutey Juice + Life Aquatics Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. 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, March 10, 2019

Saturday evening @ Bix Fest, Racine, Wisconsin - March 9

(Review by Russell)

They get dressed up for this one. Saturday evening at Bix Fest features some of the very best classic jazz era musicians to be found anywhere on the planet. Hot Chicago jazz, N'Awlins’ finest, ragtime masters and Wisconsin's own, this was to be a veritable feast of jazz. 

Reginald Robinson entertained the rapidly filling room with a selection of blues and ragtime numbers some of which were original compositions. Robinson's Little Dave Blues was inspired by his father's rather unusual day (night?) job...driver to mobster John Dillinger! Racine is but a short hop on the freeway from Chicago and this evening there were one or two mobster types at Bix Fest, thankfully they were swing dancers dressed to the nines. Hey, is that Bogie over there?! 

Robinson's partner in crime - sorry, ragtime - John Reed-Torres belatedly arrived to play Queen's Rag. Meanwhile, none of the guys appeared to be packing heat as they escorted their gals onto the by now crowded dance floor. 

Milwaukee's Sweet Sheiks took to the stage to play their opening set. Clarinet/alto sax, trombone, guitar/musical saw, banjo/guitar, brass bass and washboard, the young local six-piece kept the dancers on their feet with an hour or so of favourite numbers including Dr Jazz and The Sheik of Araby. 

The feted Cellar Boys (see photo) arrived from Chicago's Southside with all guns blazing. Don't panic! This wasn't a contract job to wipe out a rival mobster, this was Andy Schumm leading a storming set of Chicago jazz with the A-Team on the job. Working with Schumm this evening were John Otto (reeds), Paul Asaro (piano), John Donatowitz (banjo) and Dave Bock (brass bass). Hey, they needed a moll to sing a few numbers with the band. Hey Roya, come on, why don't ya join the boys on the stand? Roya Naldi, every inch the flapper, feigned indifference, this gal is a star in the making singing Guilty, Somebody Stole My Gal (Guy) and several others. What a dame! 

Top that! And they did, the Shake 'Em Up Jazz Band, that is. Last heard during the Durham (England) Brass Festival 2018, the all-female six piece outfit from N'Awlins played a killer set. Marla Dixon (trumpet, vocals), Chloe Feoranzo (clarinet, vocals), Haruka Kikuchi (trombone, vocals) - see photo of Chloe and Haruka waiting to take to the stage –, Molly Reeves (guitar, vocals), Julie Schexnadery (string bass) and Defne 'Dizzy' Incirlioglu (washboard) wowed the hard-partying Bixians. Wild Women Don't Get the Blues insisted Marla Dixon. One hour later the Shake 'Em Up girls left the stage to tumultuous applause. And guess what? This was just the mid-way point of the evening! The Shake ‘Em Ups, the Cellar Boys and the Sweet Sheiks returned to each play a second set. Fast forward to 1:00am, second sets done, the dance floor still crowded, it was time for an early hours jam session here at Bix Fest 2019. 
Russell
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