Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

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. CANCELLED! 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.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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, October 30, 2019

Jam Session @ The Black Swan - Oct. 29


(Review by Lance)

It began as a very low-key affair. Where was everyone? Had they broomsticked home for Halloween? Who knows? 

The trio set the scene with Airegin, I Love You and Chick Corea’s Windows which provided Grainger with the opportunity to crack that “the latter tune was dedicated to Lance’s former workplace (J.G. Windows Ltd., Central Arcade Newcastle)” – Don’t give up the day job Paul.



Another PG (the third one’s in Thailand), Paul Gowland, took to the stage armed with a Conn underslung alto and gave us his impression of how Ornette Coleman may have played Take Five – incredible! There is no Greater Love referred to by PG II as The Cheese Song – greater/grater – get it? This could enter into the Jazz Bumper Fun Book alongside The Sheep Song – You/Ewe – any more folks?


Straight down the middle swinging alto followed by straight down the middle swinging tenor from Graham Easthope on Blue Train.

Time for a song. Debra stepped up to the plate with MJ on guitar for a spirited version of Billie’s Bounce that kept bouncing – the song was ended but the melody lingered on. Born to be Blue reminded me that Mel Tormé could compose as well as sing – a trait he shared with Debra albeit not on this occasion.

Back to the saxophones and Paul and Graham had a Night in Tunisia. A big sound from the two saxes and an excellent solo from Mark Williams. Graham stayed on board for Blue Bossa.

Mo took over on the kit and Ray Burns gave us some mouthy magic on Stormy Weather and Ain’t Misbehavin’ with a vocal chorus on the old Fats Waller tune.

The news that Sunderland had lost a penalty shootout to Oxford United was soon forgotten with the arrival of Jordan Alfonso and Steve Summers – looked like a saxophone shootout was about to take place.

Someday My Prince Will Come then the big one – Four saxes and a harmonica blowing St.Thomas to smithereens.

Not such a bad evening after all – special thanks to Messrs Grainger, Williams and Bradford. And, remember, remember, as Paul Grainger kept reminding us, the jam is back next week on the 5th of November with Giles Strong, Abbi Finn and, of course, his good self.
Lance.
PHOTOS 

Paul Grainger (bass); Mark Williams (guitar); John Bradford (drums) + Paul Gowland, Jordan Alfonso (alto sax); Graham Easthope (tenor sax); Steve Summers (soprano sax); Debra Milne (vocals); MJ (guitar); Hazem Mohammed (drums); Ray Burns harmonica/vocals).

No comments :

Blog Archive