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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.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

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.

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

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Dave Weisser's 80th Birthday Bash @ The Globe - October 11.

(Review by Lance/photo of Dave & Jude by Russell)
Photo Album

To call this the Gig of the Year would be to do a disservice to the many fine sessions that have taken place at the Jazz Coop headquarters and elsewhere in the region. However, to not call this the Gig of the Year would be to do an even greater disservice to a man who has (relatively speaking) probably done more to encourage emerging jazz talent than any school or college this side of Berklee, Mass.

I refer, of course, to Dave Weisser who celebrated his 80th birthday at the Globe with the help of the Railway St. regulars and a few of the local big hitters.

I don't know all the names but they included Dave Parker, Andrew Porritt (bass); Doug Kennard (piano); Peter Ninnim, Stan Praszczalek, John Bradford (drums); Johannes Dalhuitsen (tenor sax); Pete Bennett (guitar/flute); Roy Stephenson (guitar); Nigel Robson (trombone); Nigel Greenwood (alto sax/trumpet).

And, of course, the main man himself - Dave - blowing muted cornet and singing in his own distinctive way.

The room was filling up and friends old and new became reacquainted relegating the music, unforgivably, but understandingly, to wallpaper.
The bar was doing good business and it is a credit to the new manager/tenant that Marston's Pedigree was absolutely first-class which, in truth, hasn't always been the case here.

The buffet was declared open and, it has to be said, that Jude did us proud. Jude also did us proud when she took to the stage on bass guitar along with the guitar legend that is John Wilson and, on drums, John Bradford later replaced by Stan, the drummer with the unpronounceable surname, and Doug Kennard on piano. The game was afoot.

Night and Day by the Take it to the Bridge team seemed to last for as long as the title implied. This isn't a criticism just that there were a lot of solos to fit in.

Then Paul Gowlandthe artist formerly known as 'Blue Hat' but now wearing a black hat - Johnny Davis - and Showtime Gray approached the stage rather like the James gang riding towards the bank in Northfield, Minnesota.

The battleground was There Will Never be Another You and the horns went for it big! However, it was unanimous that that title could only refer to the Birthday boy himself.

Alan Law was at the keyboard and, Jude went from bass guitar to flute to voice - she does them all perfectly. Paul Grainger played bass and Mo Scott set the world on fire with Route 66.

The joint was still jumpin' when my taxi arrived - quite a night!
Same time next year Dave.
Lance
Photos.

5 comments :

shepherdlass said...

Such lovely words Lance, and really glad you could make it to the party.

A few extra names for you - Pete Bennett was on guitar and flute; and the full name of the multitasking Nigel on alto sax and flugelhorn is Nigel Greenwood.

Also, the drummer with John Wilson and me was John Bradford. Stan took over when Doug Kennard took to the stand to play his lovely song "Sleepless".

Thanks to everyone for making Dave's big night really special

Jude x

Alan Smith said...

I wish that I had known about Dave's party - we go back a long way.

Can anyone help me to contact him.

Cheers.

Lance said...

Every Wednesday at The Globe - 8:00pm - bring your horn.

Lance said...

Thanks Jude, details now amended. Great night.

Billy Montgomery said...

Alan, if you log in to Bebop Spoken Here daily you'll never evr miss a gig again and, if you do, you'll be able to read about it the next day.

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