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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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.

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

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Jo Harrop, Nathan Lawson @ Ushaw Jazz Festival Day 2 (afternoon part one) -

Jo Harrop (vocals); Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (bass); Russ Morgan (drums) + Matt Anderson (tenor sax).
(Review by Lance).

Day 2 of the Ushaw Jazz Festival began with one of our favourite singers, Jo Harrop, who presented a programme that could have been subtitled Jo Harrop Sings Paul Edis as, apart from pieces by Walter Donaldson, Frank Loesser, Billie Holiday, Richard Rodgers and Leonard Bernstein, as well as Brook Bowman's East of the Sun featuring a guest appearance by Matt Anderson, Jo's remaining numbers were all words and music by Edis. 

Not that I'm complaining! They're fine contemporary tunes with lyrics that have meaning. Plus, Jo was in good voice and looked stunning in an ankle length gown and  killer heels.

A fine start to the afternoon.
Nathan Lawson (guitar)

After Jo's Some Other Time, The field of operations moved from the Francis Thompson Room to the architecturally breath-taking  St Cuthbert's Chapel. A grade 1 listed building it makes your average cathedral seem like the local parish church. It was within these sacred walls with its high ceiling and magnificent stained glass windows that Nathan Lawson made his Ushaw Festival debut. Nathan, who only recently left 6th form, gave an impressive performance that despite the muddied sound on some of the lower frequencies didn't detract from our appreciation of this delightful short set.

Despite his youth, Nathan engaged the crowd with unassuming patter and impressed them with his command of his instrument - a left handed semi-acoustic - and, with not an ipad in sight. Great things are expected of this young man. 

Quiet Nights; Bye Bye Blues; Tenderly; I Got Rhythm; Alice in Wonderland and We'll Meet Again were all tastefully and skilfully played. We'll Meet Again? We hope so...
Lance.

1 comment :

Russell said...

Yes, it was a fine start to the day with Jo as fabulous as always (with a half decent backing band!). Nathan's set more than met expectations - our Gretsch-playing southpaw's rapport with the audience suggests he has an experienced tutor in his corner (Dr J Birkett). This St Cuthbert's Chapel performance was Nathan's debut as a solo recitalist although in 2018 he entertained a crowded Francis Thompson Room as one third of the standards' trio In Other Words.

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