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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.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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. 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.

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, August 01, 2019

Dave Rae's Levee Ramblers New Orleans Jazz Band @ Springwell Village Community Venue - July 31

Dave Rae (guitar/banjo/vocal); Mick Hill (cornet/vocal); Jim McBriarty (clarinet/vocals); Gordon Solomon (trombone); John Robinson (bass); George Davidson (drums/vocal) + Ken ? (monologues)
(Review by Lance).

The Bacons (Liz & Paul) and Blenkin (Jim) were rambling elsewhere last night so leader Rae brought on Solomon, McBriarty, and Davidson off the subs bench and super-subs they were too. No surprises there! Solomon, a leader of various versions of the River City Jazzmen including the current edition, McBriarty, a key member of just about every other trad band north and south of the Tyne, and Davidson a distinctive New Orleans stylist. They combined well with the house team of Rae, Hill and Robinson.
These days, because of the increasing maturity of  the audience (notice how carefully I picked my words) for oude styjl jazz (as they say in Breda) most of the vintage jazz gigs take place in the form of lunchtime sessions. However, Springwell Village Community Venue is an exception - the well-attended evening sessions have been running (almost) since Kid Ory really was a kid.

As such, it wasn't surprising that the overall sound was reminiscent of Ory's Creole Jazz Band with Barber, Bunk, Colyer and Humph thrown in for good measure.

Despite the official name, it's a village hall and as much a hub of the area as, say, The Woolpack in TV's Emmerdale. This was typified by the platefuls of free toasties (somebody had left the fridge door open and the contents had to be used up) and the raffle which included 6 fresh eggs!

After You've Gone (vocal Hill); Mama's Gone Goodbye (vocal McBriarty); Coquette; Give me Your Telephone Number (comp. J.C. Higginbotham); Wabash Blues; Up Jumped the Devil; Bobby Shafto; DJC Blues (Humph); Too Busy (vocal by McBriarty on a number popularised by Kay Starr) and Weary Blues.

The second set began with a couple of amusing monologues recited by a gentleman called Ken before the music got back underway with McBriarty singing I Get the Blues When it Rains. Mahogany Hall Stomp did indeed stomp and the trombone wisdom of Solomon was heard on Savoy Blues. Magnolia's Wedding Day followed by I'm Travellin' with some Bechet-like clarinet from Jimmy Mack (when are you coming back?) led to Dave Rae telling us to Do What Ory Say, drummer Davidson recalling in words When You and I Were Young Maggie and, finally, Dave Rae singing Goin' Home which we duly did after a most enjoyable evening.
Lance

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