Total Pageviews

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

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Jam Session @ The Black Swan - May 14.

(Review by/Photos by Lance).

Quite a night! A tenor saxist born in L.A., a drummer studying in Boston Mass, a Nigerian (?) vocalist, an invasion of Hartlepuddlians and some of Newcastle's finest, what could go wrong?
Answer - nothing!

The evening began in a sombre mood. The normally ebullient James Harrison taking us on an unaccompanied trip to St. James' Infirmary. Abbie Finn joined the mourners with some suitable funereal drumming before upping the tempo for the Battle Hymn of the Republic (John Brown's Body). John Brown interred, more staple jam session fare followed in the form of Yardbird Suite and St. Thomas with Abbie well-featured on the latter.

The first of the sitters-in, Mel Grundy, sang Beautiful Love and Paul Grainger related as to how the song was first heard in a Boris Karloff movie.

The trio played In a Mellow Tone with lots of quirky quotes from James before the first of the three tenors took to the stage. John Rowland, who sounds like Lockjaw Davis, blew Take the A Train and Straight No Chaser. Matt was now on drums and James managed to slot a chorus of Wardell's Twisted into his solo.

Niffi was next with a unique version of Mack the Knife and a more conventional (by Niffi's standards) Autumn Leaves. Tenor number two, Graham Easthope, kicked off The Chicken and was soon joined by Showtime on trombone. Milestones (I think) saw Matt MacKellar unleash a minor explosion, James was his usual jack-in-the-box self and the whole thing went out on a fun note. The audience loved it and I was sorry that Nathan (see an earlier post) wasn't present.

Interval time - take cover, the Hartlepool hit squad are advancing.

Russell had spoken glowingly of Jan Spencelayh after hearing her with Musicians Unlimited recently so I expected nothing but the best. Our tastes in vocalists don't always coincide but, on this occasion, I was in total agreement. At Last acknowledged Etta but in a more tasteful, more subtle way. No over the top histrionics. Likewise, on Moon Dance, she didn't try to emulate Van Morrison - how could she? - she's better looking!
However, Hartlepool wasn't done with - enter Bob Caswell. Some years ago Bob was a semi-regular visitor to Blaydon Jazz Club and I seem to recollect hearing him at the Cherry Tree and being impressed. Despite the passage of time, he is still the master showman as Don't Get Around Much Anymore proved. However, it was that much-maligned song Cry Me a River that brought the house down and the only time I've heard it sung by a male vocalist. It worked.

It seemed as though it was game, set and match Hartlepool - or so we thought! 

Enter tenor number three Jordan Alfonso. The Los Angeles born, resident on Tyneside saxist is normally heard on alto but this week tenor was his chosen axe and he reduced the room to pin-dropping silence with an emotive My One and Only Love (Liz of York should have been here). A cadenza-like sax intro led into as good an instrumental version as you're ever likely to hear. Stan Getzish at first then edging into Coltrane territory - beautiful and, for once, James restrained from inserting any quotes - that's how seriously good it was.

Showtime joined in for There Will Never be Another You with an out of tempo trombone/tenor free for all.

Mel and John Rowland did You'd Be So Nice to Come Home to and the other three horns augmented You Don't Know What Love is (written for an Abbott and Costello film). Caswell and all the horns did Cottontail/I Got Rhythm before the whole shebang came to a frenzied finale with Blue Monk.
Yup, quite a night!
Lance.
James Harrison (keys); Paul Grainger (bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + John Rowlands, Graham Easthope, Jordan Alfonso (tenor sax); David 'Showtime' Gray (trombone); Matt MacKellar (drums); Melanie Grundy, Niffi Osiyemi, Jan Spencelayh, Bob Caswell (vocals).

3 comments :

Ron said...

Great review of a great ' I was there' jam session. Great photos too!
Northeast is so privileged to have so many top jazz musicians and vocalists.
Wonderful night!

Patti said...

Yeah - it was indeed one of those extra special jamming sessions. It was fantastic to see our two top class young drummers in such brilliant form too - and the very best of jazzy good wishes to both Abbie and Matt in their future musical lives!

Jan S said...

What a thoroughly enjoyable night! This was my very first jazz jam session but will absolutely not be my last! I was blown away by the quality and talent of the musicians, core and contributing. I was feeling somewhat apprehensive about how an intruding unknown vocalist might be received but was soon reassured by the warm welcome of the 'resident' musicians and the friendliness of the crowd. I know Bob totally enjoyed his night too. Thank you for a great time - The Hartlepuddlians will definitely be back!

Blog Archive