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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

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

Tuesday, July 02, 2019

Remembering Tony Hall (1928-2019)

I feel a lot of sadness at the death of record producer/journalist and many other things, Tony Hall. aged 91.

Back in my teenage years when I lived in London for awhile most of my leisure time was spent hanging out at the 100 Club on Oxford St., or the Flamingo Club on Wardour St. It was at this latter venue which, in the days before Ronnie's, was the premier modern jazz club in London. All the top British names played there including the Jazz Couriers, Eddie Thompson (with his guide dog Max sleeping under the piano), Don Rendell and, on one memorable occasion, Carmen McRae with Don Abney on piano.

Tony Hall was the compere on most evenings, a role he carried out with authority and humour - as cool a dude as anyone on the scene at that time.

I remember an occasion when someone asked him who was playing at the club on the following night. He looked puzzled before saying, "Haven't got a clue - is there a Melody Maker in the house?"

Tony also produced and wrote the sleeve notes for the old Tempo label which featured many of the above names.

He later moved on to greater things but, for me, he'll always be the tall young man who made those Flamingo sessions so enjoyable.

Tony Hall passed away on June 26, 2019.
Sadly missed.
Lance.

7 comments :

Harry said...

Hi Lance,

Sorry to read of Tony Hall's passing. He was a shining light pushing local jazz and jazz musicians in those early days. I don't think there are many of us left who still remember the great sessions at The Flamingo and the 100 Club.

Best regards

Harry Monty

Lance said...

Yes, those were the days Harry - who knows, we may have been at the same gigs or had a pint at the pub opposite the Flamingo, or the one around the corner from the 100 Club! I'd love to hear more of your memories from those halcyon days.

Harry said...

Hi Lance,

Many a memorable night at the Flamingo with many of the top names appearing - some I can still remember are the Ronnie Scott nine piece, The Jazz Couriers with Ronnie and Tubby, The Johnny Dankworth Orchestra with Cleo Laine - spine tingling session, the Jazz Makers with Alan Ganley and Ronnie Ross, the Jazz Five with Vic Ash and Harry Klein, the Tony Kinsey group with Joe Harriott and of course, as you mentioned, Eddie Thompson and his dog Max. At the 100 Club one fantastic night was Humph and his band with Tony Coe and Joe Temperley and featuring Jimmy Rushing.
Another club I went on a couple of occasions was the Blue Lagoon which was in a basement in Carnaby Street (before it became famous). On the second occasion Helen Merrill was appearing with Dill Jones (I think), Spike Heatley and John Marshall, when who should come into the club but Dinah Washington with her pianist, Beryl Booker. Helen invited them up and Dinah then started to sing and literally brought the house down. What a night!!!

That's all for now.

Best regards

Harry

Lance said...

1959 - the Woody Herman Anglo-American Herd at the Royal Festival Hall. An all British sax section (apart from Woody).Johnny Scott, Don Rendell, Art Ellefson, Ronnie Ross. Trumpets: Bert Courtly, Les Condon, Kenny Wheeler + Nat Adderley Reunald Jones. Trombones: Eddie Harvey, Ken Wray + the great Bill Harris. An all-American rhythm section: Charlie Byrd (guitar), Vince Guaraldi (piano), Keeter Betts (bass), Jimmy Campbell (drums). the British guys (ok I know that 2 were Canadian) more than held their own.

I envy you seeing Helen Merrill and Dinah Washington on the same night!

Harry said...

Hi Lance,

Yes that was a triumph of collaboration between American,Canadian and British musicians - I don't think I saw them at the Royal Festival Hall but probably saw them at the Odeon Hammersmith. I understand it was Ronnie Ross who organised the British contingent. Great memories.

Best regards

Harry

Lance said...

That is amazing, I too thought I'd saw them at Hammersmith! However, I still have the programme and when I checked it was deffo RFH. The tour finished at the Granada cinemas in Tooting and Walthamstow. I did see JATP at Hammersmith.

Incidentally, the programme has an advert for the Marquee Club featuring all the usual suspects plus Michael Garrick. This was before it moved into blues and rock 'n' roll.

Cost 4 bob to get into the club - 5p in new money to see Tubby Hayes!

Lance said...

Whoops! Got my maths wrong - 20p, still a bargain at any price to hear Tubbs...

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