Bebop Spoken There

Warne Marsh: "At some point, you have to be prepared to create—to perform. It's vital, man, if we're talking about jazz, the original jazz, the performing art. It fulfils its meaning only when you play it live in front of an audience." DownBeat January 1983.

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

18191 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 45 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 14), 45

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Tue 20: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.

Wed 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 21: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 21: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 22: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: 2025 obituaries.
Thu 22: Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Thu 22: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta. @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm (doors). £6.50 (inc. bf).

Fri 23: Sue Ferris Quintet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 23: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 24: An Evening with Will Todd @ Durham Cathedral. 7:30pm. Feat. Voices of Hope, Strictly Smokin’ Big Band (members of) & Alice Grace. Performance inc. Todd’s Jazz Missa Brevis. £25.50., £13.50., £19.50., £10.50.

Sun 25: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 25: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Alexia Gardner Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

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

Monday, October 21, 2019

Jazz in the Afternoon @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - October 21


It's a Sin to Tell a Lie, so said Herbie Hudson as he ushered in this week's Jazz in the Afternoon session. Sitters-in were in early waiting to be called, not least Doris Fenn and Brian Lynham. Ain't Misbehavin' sang HH before the first of them, Mr Lynham, harp in hand, sang Sonny Boy's Mighty Long Time to Dave Percy's bass accompaniment. Messrs Brian Chester and Ollie Rillands joined the party on an instrumental Stormy Weather. Lynham would return later in the afternoon.

HH shimmied like his sister - what's her name? - before paddling lazily up a river to rendezvous with a certain Sweet Georgia Brown. Right, time for Mr J Broddle. From Sweet Georgia Brown to a swinging Sweet Sue JB charmed the birds from on high. 

Interval - a trip to the bar for a second pint of Toon Broon (Blaydon's Firebrick Brewery). Raffle tickets at the ready...


Stalwart Teresa Armstrong put in an appearance ahead of her mid-week film premiere engagement. Sammy Fain's That Old Feeling, a measured Red Sails in the Sunset and a jaunty Ces't Magnifique were TA's three tunes this week. She'll be back next week regaling all and sundry about her red carpet adventure. 

Miles 'Indiana' Watson sang and bugled The Birth of the Blues with D Fenn to his left knocking out the chords ably supported by the house band of Hudson, Brian Chester, keyboards, Dave Percy, bass and the old rock 'n' roller himself, Ollie Rillands, drums. Bye Bye Blackbird heard more from Watson with a Fenn solo thrown in for good measure. 

And so he returned - Mr No Time For Jive, Brian Lynham - on the last train to Cullercoats. Pistons turning, stoker Lynham worked up a sweat before putting in a shift with Watson down at St James' Infirmary. Ah, wait...that's an inspired B Chester cranking it up a la Alan Price at the B3! 

As three o'clock approached drummer Rillands squeezed in his not-to-be-missed 'quiff and drapes' medley. He had the band's many veteran followers up doing their thing...after a while they sat back down, jiggered. And that was just about it. Herbie Hudson thanked one and all, see you next time. 
Russell
Herbie Hudson (trombone, harmonica, vocals); Brian Chester (keyboards); Dave Percy (bass); Ollie Rillands (drums, vocals) + Brian Lynham (harmonica, vocals); John Broddle (vocals); Teresa Armstrong (vocals); Miles Watson (trumpet, vocals); Doris Fenn (banjo)

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