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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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 20, 2019

New Orleans Swamp Donkeys @ Cobalt Studios & Ernest, Newcastle - July 19


James Williams (trumpet, trombone, vocals); Bryce Eastwood (clarinet, soprano sax, vocals); JP Brion (trombone); Sam Fribush (piano, vocals); Gary Washington (string bass); Tim Rachbach (drums)
(Review by Russell)

One band, two gigs, two venues a stone's throw a part, the Swamp Donkeys were in town! The Ouseburn Delta had rarely seen anything like it. All the way from New Orleans via Leeds and London, James Williams strolled into Ernest, sat down, and began to play. 

Ernest on Boyd Street welcomed its regulars and an influx of expectant jazz fans there to listen (and dance) to the 'real deal' from New Orleans. This, the first of two performances, served as a promo for a gig later in the evening a few doors down at Cobalt Studios. No PA, no amplification, the Swamp Donkeys played it entirely acoustically, just as the music's pioneers did way back when. 

Washington and Lee Swing opened the show. Williams, trumpet and vocals, sat down as though a customer, flanked to his left by Bryce Eastwood, clarinet, to his right by trombonist JP Brion. Standing before them were their fans - yes, Newcastle welcomed its American visitors with open arms. Williams sings like Louis Armstrong but, make no mistake, this isn't mere pastiche, this is what he does! Imagine...one hundred years ago Armstrong would have played gigs like this, no PA, battling to be heard. And here he was - Williams, that is - gigging down in the Ouseburn Delta. To coin a phrase, you couldn't make it up! 

Blue Turning GreyMuskrat RambleRoyal Garden Blues - this way spine-tingling stuff. Veterans of the scene turned out, they weren't about to miss this one. As Williams held court one local bandleader remarked: Fabulous! Terrific!

The stripped-back rhythm section - Gary Washington, string bass, Tim Rachbach, snare drum, and pianist (sans piano) Sam Fribush brandishing a tambourine - laid down a Big Easy foundation upon which Williams did his thing. Yes, this was fabulous and terrific alright. Bring on Cobalt!

A couple of hours later Cobalt Studios' industrial space opened its doors ready for business. A former warehouse premises on Boyd Street, all manner of gigs have been staged beneath a somewhat incongruous glitterball. This evening a genuine Big Easy sextet took to the stage. Ernest's acoustic Swamp Donkeys morphed into an amplified outfit for what would be a highly charged performance.         

The Swamp Donkeys' horns sat on Cobalt's on-stage sofa, it was as if we were in a Storyville saloon bar. James Williams cut a relaxed figure, leaning back, blowing hot trumpet, then singing (RosettaI'm Confessin'), yeah, we were in N'Awlins, for sure. Williams stood tall, engaging the audience, he's a real showman is the Swamp Donkeys' main man. 

The Swamp Donkeys is a drinking band (Jack Daniel's and the like). Mid-set an overly-keen glass collector swept-up Williams' drink from the front of the stage. Williams, quick as a flash: Hey! Where ya goin' with my beer? In N'Awlins that could get you killed! Turning to his band mates...Ain't that right boys?! Our glass collector returned Mr Williams' drink, double quick.

Earlier, Ernest's acoustic set was as a young Louis Armstrong would have played it. Here at Cobalt the amplified Swamp Donkeys moved into Blues Brothers' revue-style territory with Newcastle's swing dancers readily switching to a boogie-on-down style. A storming Everybody Needs Somebody to Love to a chilled Wonderful World to Jesus on the Mainline, Williams and his ace band (Bryce Eastwood, clarinet/soprano sax, particularly impressive) gave the audience what it wanted, and more. St James' Infirmary (a request), it was almost time to go and When the Saints sealed the deal. It had been quite a night down in the Mississippi/Ouseburn Delta.    
Russell

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