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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. CANCELLED! 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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, July 04, 2019

Jam Session @ the Dun Cow, Jesmond - July 3

Dean Stockdale (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Matt MacKellar (drums) + Ray Johnson (trumpet/flugelhorn); Jordan Alfonso (tenor sax); Charles Harrison, Laurence Harrison (guitars); Jan Spencelayh, Mel Grundy (vocals).
(Review/photos by Lance).

For some time now the fortnightly jam sessions at the Black Swan have been unchallenged in terms of quality with the Dun Cow in Jesmond running a distant second. However, since opting to go monthly things at the latter venue have picked up and, on the strength of last night, jazzwise it could be said to have held its own.

Both sessions are organised by Paul Grainger and most of the same musicians are involved but, as is often the case there are always the unexpected visitors eager to display their talents (or lack of).

The latest new arrivals came in the form of the brothers Harrison, both guitarists, who made their mark in no uncertain terms. Charles Harrison, a South Shields guitar teacher, last showed at the Jazz Café back in the Pete Gilligan era (May 17, 2016) whilst bro Laurance has been plying his trade in London. Charles played the jammers' favourite, the tune the aforementioned Gilligan would refer to as Stella by Artois. and Someday My Prince Will Come.

Laurance had a blast on Solar and maybe something else - I was so knocked out by the notes I didn't take notes - before teaming up with a couple of the other big hitters - Ray Johnson and Jordan Alfonso for I Got Rhythm. Ray had played trumpet on There's a Small Hotel and Alfie's Theme but switched to flugel for this one whilst Jordan had left his alto at home to blow some gutsy tenor on Black Coffee and Girl From Ipanema, two numbers more associated with vocalists.

Speaking of vocalists, Mel confessed she'd been ill (she missed her last gig at the Globe) and was using this as a fitness test - she passed! You'd be so Nice to Come Home To and I Didn't Know What Time it Was were the chosen arias.

Jan sounded really good on Teach me Tonight and Orange Colored Sky then, on the grand finale with all the cats joining in, My Baby Just Cares For Me, updating the lyrics to include Beyoncé and Julia Roberts for those of us too young to remember Liz Taylor and Lana Turner.

Special mention for the unsung heroes of the evening - the house trio who'd got the ball rolling with My Romance and The Nearness of You. The Hoagy tune featured Matt on an extended drum solo - not quite what you expect on a romantic ballad but, hey ho, that's jazz - the sound of surprise! Throughout they covered whatever was thrown at them and did it just perfectly - maybe more so!

Another malfunctioning Metro system (both coming and going) did nothing to detract from a most enjoyable evening.
Lance.

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