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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

1803759 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 480 of them this year alone and, so far, 58 this month (June 18).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00. CANCELLED!

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: David Gray's Flextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’.
Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

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, April 01, 2019

Remembering Keith @ the Prohibition Bar - March 31.

(Review by Lance)

I'd just watched Sunderland lose the Chekatrade Cup final to Portsmouth so that entering the Pro Bar and hearing Gypsy Dave Smith, accompanied by Ray Burns,  singing the blues captured my mood. I'd despaired at the cheers from Newcastle's 'anti-Sunderland' fans when Pompey emerged victorious after a penalty shoot-out. Nice one guys support a team that's 400 miles away as opposed to one that's about 12 miles and a few stops on the Metro! But that's the tribalism of the so-called beautiful game on Mother's Day*.

I remembered Crombie's views on football fans - they didn't get into the old Jazz Caff if they were wearing 'shirts' - 'A bunch of wankers!' his favourite remark. 

And, of course, we jazzers have also been guilty of tribalism if you think back to the days when traddies and boppers decreed that ne'er the like should meet.


That particular conflict has long been resolved - witness Lindsay Hannon singing Basin Street Blues. Lady Day Hannon treated it gentle. Caressing the old Spencer Williams tune as if it were the most sentimental ballad of love and yet, without losing the old New Orleans' feel, it was a pin drop moment. 
So, why were we all gathered together like this? To enjoy the music of course but, also to remember the late Keith Crombie.

Crombie is (I hate to say 'was') perhaps the most enigmatic non-playing jazz figure in the northeast and it was fitting that he should be remembered with a plaque on the wall, unveiled by his sister Janet, in the place where he made it all happen.
It was also an evening that reunited old friends and introduced new friends - hi Helena, I know we're friends on F/b but it's not the same as being friends in person whilst listening to some great music.

Then there was Kevah and his camera and his always friendly greeting. Jazz friends seem to have inseparable bonds (well most) and Kev's photos are excellent (click here).

Because it was as much a social occasion as a gig, the music wasn't always picked up by the crowd but, some of the ones that I tuned in to were, Lindsay singing Some Other Time; John Rowland blowing that rarely heard Rodgers and Hart ballad, You Are Too Beautiful and Val Clemens singing All of Me. We also had the surprise of the night when proprietor Mitch sat in on drums - following Ian Forbes no less! Turned out Mitch was just keeping the drum stool warm for 'Lady' Caroline Mary who was out slumming but proved that she too could play.
By now the 8:00pm advertised finish had long gone and, with it, so had I. I probably missed more great music - how could I not with Mark Williams and Paul Grainger aboard? But, I left, football forgotten but memories of the past and the present very much alive.
Lance.
PHOTOS.
*Mother's à la Miles.

2 comments :

Unknown said...

Thankyou So Much Lance a lovely write-up you never fail to impress it was a lovely night which I'm sure Keith would have approved of ...It was lovely to see you again too. Mitch and colleagues have created a beautifull Jazz venue I loved it .. take care my friend Val

Helena said...

Great write up about a very special evening at the Prohibition Bar unveiling the Keith Crombie Plaque Lance Thank you for the Mention it was lovely To meet you at last after being facebook friends for ages

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