Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 2026)

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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

From This Moment On

May

Mon 25: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 26: Noel Dennis Sextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00. A Miles Davis centenary concert (Davis b. 26. 5. 1926). Noel Dennis (trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums). SOLD OUT!
Tue 26: Lagos to Longbenton @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Miles Davis & His Favourite Musicians.
Thu 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 28: Bobby Rush @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. + bf. Veteran USA bluesman.
Thu 28: Squabble @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 28: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.

Sat 30: Giles Strong Quartet @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £1.50 bf.

Sun 31: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 31: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 31: Sinfonia of London: Tea Dance @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. Free. John Wilson ensemble performing on the concourse. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin & more.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 31: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 31: Ben Haskins Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival - July 14

(Reviews by Sheila)

The Lemon Monkeys: Matt Smith and Carlos Olmos (guitars). German-Bolivian,
Sunday morning was underway at 11 on the main stage with a jazz guitar duo - a Londoner and a German-Bolivian.  "Guten Dias", and it was a good day. 
Lovely interpretations of jazz standards, swinging and intricate, with a gypsy jazz feel at times. All well received and appreciated by the audience who were enjoying the brighter weather. 

Emma Johnson's Gravy Boat: Emma Johnson sax, Fergus Vickers, guitar, Angus Milne, double bass and Steve Hanley drums. 
On stage Sunday lunchtime (Gravy Boat - get it?!) 
A relaxed, melodic and distinctive style of contemporary jazz, from composer Emma Johnson and the band.  "We had a great time performing at Burton Agnes for the first time and it was amazing to play our music to such a friendly and interested audience" said, Emma. There was a strong rapport both within the band and with the audience, accessible and very popular with the knowledgeable listeners who queued for CDs on sale at the end of the set. 

Catch them at The Globe on 16th November. 
Veronica and Max (Veronica Sbergia and Max De Bernadi from Milan) were next up and quite a contrast. 1920s blues to gospel with washboard and guitar. Very energetic and fun, these multi-instrumentalists, ukeleles and kazoo also part of the mix, and great vocals from Veronica, sometimes in authentic hollerin' style, had the audience laughing and joining in the songs and dancing on the lawn proving that music knows no boundaries of genre or appeal worldwide.

Ben Beattie's After Midnight Band 
Lisanse Changwe (guitar/vocals); Ben Beattie (alto/tenor sax); + drums, bass guitar & Simon Cunliffe-Lister (alto sax).
(Photo courtesy of Charlie Shaw) 

Ben Beattie's After Midnight Band wound up proceedings in the now traditional manner. Joined by Simon Cunliffe-Lister, event organiser, on sax and a 70+ group of dancers and another 100 + seated seeing out the weekend in style.
All the bands who played on the main stage l have reviewed in some detail, but many other musicians covering a wide range of styles within the jazz/blues/folk genre are present and playing on smaller stages in more intimate settings, the splendid Great Hall of the Elizabethan House and the courtyard for example. 

The venue is a delight, the beers are local the food and ice cream ditto, prices are reasonable and quality excellent. Being able to wander around the beautiful grounds, play areas and gardens means it's family-friendly and facilities are plentiful. 

A relaxed, well-organised weekend and congratulations and thanks to all involved. 
The dates are set for next year and l highly recommend getting your tickets early. 
Sheila.

1 comment :

Emma Johnson on Twitter said...

Thanks to Sheila for the lovely review on @bebopspokenhere of our gig at @burtonagneshall
Jazz and Blues Festival.

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