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HOWAY THE LADS!

Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: Pearl Blossoms @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime.
Sun 16: Hot 8 Brass Band @ Wylam Brewery. 7:30pm. ‘Big Tuba Tour’.
Sun 16: ARQ @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Air4ce @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:30pm (8:00pm doors). £12.00.; £10.00. Tom Atkinson’s all-star band (line-up inc. Lindsay Hannon & Sue Ferris).
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Jamie Toms Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.
Tue 18: Phil Bancroft’s Beautiful Storm @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20 & £11.00.. A JNE-Gem Arts co-promotion.

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: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ 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: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

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: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ 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: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

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, September 04, 2019

Jam Session @ the Black Swan - Sept. 3

(Review/photos by Lance).

Six singers in a session made this an evening to remember for those of us who like a well-crafted lyric and there have been few lyricists who crafted it better than Ira Gershwin with They All Laughed, although the version by Niffi O may have strayed from his original intentions! We weren't laughing, most of us were applauding wildly as we also did after she worked out on Nellie Lutcher's 1948 hit Fine Brown Frame.

Unintimidated by this wild beginning, Jen Errington who, Paul Grainger informed us has a cat called Duke (Duke Errington - get it?), offered contrast with When Sunny Gets Blue and You Go To My Head. A sensitive and tender performance that almost silenced the audience - almost!

Miriam McCormick followed with Good Morning Heartache and a jaunty I'm in the Mood for Love.

At last, an instrumentalist! Giles Strong didn't need words to get the message across on Days of Wine & Roses, Just Friends and, Blue Bossa.

A break was called - perhaps for bingo or maybe Simon Cowell was going to pass judgement? No, it was time to give Walker and Law a spell with Mo now on drums and a young first-timer, James, on piano. Sorry James but I didn't get your surname. With Giles and Paul still manning the fort, up stepped Jan.

How Insensitive and I Only Have Eyes for You. A few key explorations were called for before a mutually agreeable choice was made on the latter number - such are the hazards of jam sessions.

Enter JJ! It had been awhile since I'd heard the Lithuanian Lark and she was in scintillating form aided and abetted by Showtime Gray.
If You Don't Want to be Down With me was followed by a bizarre melange of Wave, Oye Como Va, Summertime, Autumn Leaves and maybe a few more! She also duetted with Alan Law on keyboard. Amazing!

Bob Caswell thought so and gave her the acknowledgement she deserved before treating us to The Shadow of Your Smile followed by Laura. Magnificent - look out Tony Bennett, Bob's only 8 years behind you and closing in.

Meanwhile, David Gray had been hovering - his trombone primed - and ready to storm the citadel. I Got Rhythm provided the ammunition and the trombone became a battering ram. This was so hot I'm sure the slide melted (see pic)! Misty was rather more mellow.

An unusual session that would have benefited from maybe a trumpet or a couple of saxes. As I headed for the Metro I noted a platoon  of suitcases emerging from the station. Part of the new intake - I wondered how many, if any, were aspiring jazz musicians? There's usually a few. Time will tell.
Lance.
PS: Needless to say, the house trio of Law, Grainger and Walker were excellent!

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Rob Walker (drums) + Giles Strong (guitar); Hazem Mohammed (drums); David 'Showtime' Gray (trombone); James ? (piano); Niffi Osiyemi, Jen Errington, Miriam McCormick, Jan Spencelayh, Julija Jacenaite, Bob Caswell (vocals).

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