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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

1803759 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 480 of them this year alone and, so far, 58 this month (June 18).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sat 21: Jason Holcomb Jazz Ensemble @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 5:30-7:30pm. Free. A 'Sunderland Year of Music' event.
Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

Thu 26: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Brass Instruments & the use of mutes.

Fri 27: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Time After Time’.

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

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The James Harrison Playhouse Band @ Dormans Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - August 22


James Harrison (keys/accordion); Alice Grace (vocals); Will Howard (tenor sax/clarinet); Keith Peberdy (bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
(Review by Ron H)

Back in 2010, Tees Hot Club organised a jazz night at Dormans Club in Middlesbrough – they hoped it would catch on. Now, nine years on and approximately 450 sessions later, the general consensus of opinion is that it has ‘caught on’!

The audience that crowded the room for a special celebratory night certainly thought so as they were treated to a fantastic night of music and entertainment.

Starting the evening with an up tempo version of  Secret Love, Alice showed her fine vocal talent, with great solos from James and Will backed by Russ and Keith setting the standard for the night. 

A more relaxed Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, followed, again with Alice's lovely singing blending in with fine musicianship before moving up a notch to a swinging  Blue Skies.

An exciting Latin number Mambo Inn, featured Russ, showing his great skills on drums. James and Alice performed Honeysuckle Rose, as a duo to great effect.

Alice, singing the classic Georgia on my Mind, with a lovely tenor solo from Will and keyboard work from James, went down well before the band followed with a swinging Bye Bye Blackbird, and a great bass solo from Keith.

The first set was brought to a close in cabaret style with  Bei Mir Bist Du Schon, great showmanship from James on accordion, Will on tenor and Alice's singing.

Shiny Stockings, featuring Alice (Ella style) and Will on tenor started the second set then James played a dramatic and rousing version of Caravan, with great sax and vocals.

Blossom Dearie's Moonlight Saving Time, and Wonderful World, contrasted with the great gypsy jazz anthem Dark Eyes, featuring James, again,  on accordion and Will on clarinet.

I Can't Give You Anything But Love, was played and sung in fine style after which the audience demanded an encore that resulted in some fine scat work from Alice including mimicking trumpet and trombone with the band playing Parker's swinging  Billie's Bounce, that seemed to evolve into Monk's Well You Needn't, (I think?).

This was an excellent night of entertainment from first class jazz musicians with one of the best Ella Fitzgerald influenced singers around to celebrate our nine years of jazz events at Dormans  with the aptly named Playhouse Band. 

Again, many thanks to the generous support for all these years given to us from Dormans Club.
 Ron H
YouTube link from James Nesbitt - Secret Love.

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