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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 ...

April 2025.

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.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

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

Thursday, March 07, 2019

Triple First: Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee – March 6.

Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
(Review/photos by Jerry E)

This was the first time I had made it to the Lubetkin Theatre for one of the lunchtime gigs which Emma Fisk has been running since last September; the first time I had heard Dean Stockdale play, and the first time I had heard the two excellent original compositions – First Light and Another Time – which featured in today’s set-list.

Those two, of which more later, were sandwiched between interesting arrangements of various standards (for interesting, try Hoagy Carmichael’s The Nearness of You done “a bit James Bond-ish”!) sensitively performed by three of our top musicians.


Nostalgia in Times Square was the opener, as it is on Stockdale’s CD which I purchased after enjoying the gig today. From Mingus to Gershwin, next up was They Can’t Take That Away from Me during which I thought I heard a quote from Singing in the Rain – or was it just today’s weather which put the thought in my head? Either way, Mick was silently singing during his solo (as is his wont) on My Romance! Out of Nowhere was built entirely around Russ Morgan’s drumming and featured a great snap ending. Witchcraft concluded the (all too short) performance in fine style.

There was an element of witchcraft, or at least enchantment, about the original, First Light. Melodic, almost classical in parts, this featured deft brush-work from Russ Morgan and “Danse Macabre” style bass from Mick Shoulder as well as a lovely fade-out finish. The ballad-style original, Another Time, was also gently melodic (I could readily imagine lyrics being penned to go with it) and featured another fine bass solo. I liked the ending here, too – bowed bass and tinkling piano.

So, I can unreservedly commend my “triple firsts”: the Lubetkin is easy to get to (literally two minutes off the A19) and, with music of this quality on offer, it’s well worth the trip. I’ll be making that trip again on the first of May for Zoë  Gilby and Andy Champion. Fans of Messrs. Stockdale, Shoulder and Morgan should make a bee-line for Bishop Auckland Town Hall on March 15 where all 3 appear alongside Graham Hardy and Lewis Watson – a mouth-watering prospect!

Jerry

1 comment :

EmmaFiskJazzVio said...

Many thanks for the review Jerry and for making the journey to deepest, darkest Peterlee!
Look forward to seeing you in May.
Emma

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