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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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 15, 2019

Dave Rae's Levee Ramblers New Orleans Jazz Band with Ian Wynne @ Springwell Village Community Venue - August 14


Dave Rae (banjo, vocals); Mick Hill (cornet, vocals); Liz Bacon (clarinet); Jim Blenkin (trombone, vocals); Ian Wynne (piano); John Robinson (double bass); Paul Bacon (drums)
(Review by Russell)

All the Girls Go Crazy - don't know 'bout that but in its own way Wednesday's New Orleans jazz session in Springwell Village stirred more than a few with an all-too-rare appearance by Ian Wynne. Sitting at the upright our unassuming pianist opted for being one of the guys rather than hog the limelight as Dave Rae sang the opening number. 

In addition to leading the frontline, Mick Hill sang two or three numbers - Put on Your Old Grey BonnetBasin Street Blues and When You and I Were Young, Maggie - as well as playing some half decent N'awlins' cornet. Fellow brass man Jim Blenkin knew the melodies inside out and chipped in with a vocal or two, Harry Warren's Crying for the Carolines particularly effective. From time to time, clarinetist Liz Bacon glanced over her left shoulder to acknowledge pianist Wynne's sterling contribution.


Dave Rae's first class banjo playing acted as a rhythmic pulse from which the septet took its cue. Engine room buddies John Robinson, string bass, and the delightfully minimalist drumming of Paul Bacon steered a steady course down the Mississippi. The collective improvisation on Sam Morgan's Bogalusa Strut was a real treat, a highlight of an excellent first set. 

Another bottle of Brown, the second set would surely prove the equal of the first. Clarinet Marmalade didn't tax Liz Bacon although I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas' tongue-twisting lyrics threatened to tie-up Mick Hill but somehow, as if Houdini, our veteran trumpeter wriggled free and crossed the finishing line a winner! A fine evening of New Orleans' jazz concluded with a sprightly Tiger Rag featuring Paul Bacon's wood blocks 'n' all and band leader Rae's one vocal chorus and out.    

Earlier, during the interval the Levee Ramblers' special guest Ian Wynne caught up with all and sundry and with the raffle done and dusted (a Tuba Skinny CD went to a good home...hope they enjoy it!) the lights went down for our guest's solo piano spot. Ian Wynne held the standing-room-only audience spellbound with an astounding display of ragtime, stride and boogie woogie piano. In quick succession - Pixie (James Booker), Dorothy (Dr John) to start, Professor Longhair's Crawfish Fiesta and a boogie woogie flourish to finish, these either side of a magnificent version of Fats Waller's Handful of Keys which deservedly brought the house down. 
Russell

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