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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

17985(and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 306 of them this year alone and, so far, 62 this month (April 26).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: International Jazz Day @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £16.00.; £14.00. adv.. Feat. Guido Spannocchi, John Pope & Steve Hanley + Take it to the Bridge participants + Open Mic Night participants.

MAY 2025

Thu 01: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Member’s Contribution.
Thu 01: Alabaster de Plume @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 01: Living in Shadows + OUTRI @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: The Shayo Experiment @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Shayo Oshodi & Liam Oliver.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ STACK, Seaburn. 4:30-6:15pm. Free.
Fri 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:00pm. £7.50. A ‘Nauta’s House’ gig featuring Nauta & guests Shayo Oshodi & David Gray.
Fri 02: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 02: Dom Pipkin @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Solo piano.
Fri 02: Abbie Finn Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00. + bf.

Sat 03: Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Summer Samba Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 03: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Postmodern Jukebox @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Sat 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £3.00. + bf.
Sat 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:30pm. Free.

Sun 04: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 04: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 04: Ben Crosland Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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, July 06, 2019

Blind Pig Blues Club: Struggle Buggy @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle - July 5


Struggle Buggy: Lee Bates (guitar, kazoo, vocals); Billy Newton (harmonica, vocals); Paul Summerson (bass guitar); Keith Smith (drums)
(Review by Russell)

The most authentic blues in town! That's the Blind Pig Blues Club's forthright claim and at the end of an evening featuring Struggle Buggy supported by Michael Littlefield's solo set those who were present would readily endorse it! 

Lee Bates and Billy Newton have worked together as a duo for a good few years and Struggle Buggy is their four-piece band comprising bassist Paul Summerson and drummer Keith Smith. The set list ranged from Blind Boy Fuller (I'm a Rattlesnakin' Daddy and Flyin' Airplane Blues) to Memphis Minnie (Kissing in the Dark) to Washboard Sam (I'm Gonna Keep My Hair Parted in the Middle). Bates, playing a National Steel, took the majority of the vocals with Newton singing Sonny Boy's Early in the Morning

Bates and Newton are students of the blues; musicians, labels, recording dates, all at their fingertips. The subject matter often dark, lyrical innuendo ever-present, yet Struggle Buggy's frontmen successfully engaged with the Prohibition Bar audience with their unfailing good humour as the rhythm section - Paul Summerson (bass) and, the model of restraint, Keith Smith (drums) - did what a good rhythm section should do - lay it down and keep it there, in-the-pocket. 

The Panic is On (Depression-era blues), Tampa Red's Black Hearted Woman, a Mess Around from the Memphis Jug Band (Bates blowing 1920s' kazoo) and Tear it Down (King David's Jug Band) with audience 'jazz hands' participation, this was authentic blues alright with a most welcome relaxed, inclusive approach courtesy of Bates, Newton and co..                 

Michael Littlefield (guitar, vocals)

Earlier, Michael Littlefield opened this month's Blind Pig Blues Club session with a solo (guitar/vocals) set. The King Bees' frontman is the 'real deal', as 'authentic' a musician as you could wish to hear. Guitar and voice, the young man has got it big style. The traditional (19th century?) Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor for openers, Robert Johnson's 32-20 BluesYou Got Me Dizzy from the Jimmy Reed songbook and a Nassau String Band cut (Bellamina), no less! Tyneside is lucky to have such an accomplished performer, Littlefield is the coming generation, make no mistake, fingers crossed he'll be around for years to come. 

Next month's Blind Pig presents, all the way from Edinburgh, Geriatric Jones and Kid Thomas. August 2nd, doors at eight, first set at nine. Admission free, but, but, but, do make a donation!    
Russell

1 comment :

Patti said...

This was a great blues night - Michael is the real deal - he can cross from Mississippi John Hurt to Robert Johnson seamlessly - singing and guitar styles. Gently melodic, to the raw emotion of RJ ...... this was it, in our very own Prohibition Bar!

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