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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

18018 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 339 of them this year alone and, so far, 17 this month (May 7).

From This Moment On ...

MAY 2025

Thu 15: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: The Greatest in Jazz - Guitarists.
Thu 15: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 15: New Ways of Moving in the Counterworlds @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). John Garner & John Pope.

Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Sophie Speed with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ Longframlington Memorial Hall. 7:00pm (doors). Tickets: £12.00. from 01665 570984.
Fri 16: Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00.
Fri 16: Peter Donegan & Anthony Donegan @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. ‘Lonnie Donegan - The Stories’.

Sat 17: Teresa Watson Band @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sat 17: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Tel: 0191 500 9494. £26.00 (inc. two course meal). Line-up: Jason Holcomb, Hannah Taylor, Alix Shepherd & Abbie Finn.
Sat 17: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 17: Archie Brown & the Young Bucks @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues, Americana etc.
Sat 17: Rockin’ Turner Brothers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Rockabilly, Western swing etc.

Sun 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 18: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 18: Ruth Lambert & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 18: Steve Summers Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 19: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 19: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 20: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.
Tue 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Pleased to Meet You, Bridge St., Morpeth NE61 1ND. 8:00pm.

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.

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

Tuesday, October 01, 2019

Preview: Mike Durham's International Classic Jazz Party @ The Village Hotel (Nov 1-3)

(Preview by Russell)

One month from today (October 1st) the 2019 edition of Mike Durham's International Classic Jazz Party will be under way on North Tyneside. Musicians from around the globe will gather for three days of non-stop jazz beginning at noon on Friday, November 1st. 

There is a truly international element to the festival established in 1990 by the late Mike Durham which, in those days, was known as the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival. In recent years both format and venue have changed; the convention of programming a series of bands has been replaced by a series of concert-themed performances drawing upon the expertise of more than thirty musicians resident across the weekend. 

From America come trumpeters Andy Schumm, Mike Davis and Duke Heitger, David Horniblow, reeds, Dave Bock, trombone, pianists David Boeddinghaus and Andrew Oliver, drummer Josh Duffee and vocalist Joan Viskant. The European contingent boasts trumpeters Torstein Kubban and Malo Mazurié, the reedsmen Matthias Seuffert, Claus Jacobi, Lars Frank and Stéphane Gillot, pianist Morten Gunnar Larsen, Jacob Ullberger, Henry Lemaire and Felix Hunot, guitar and banjo (Lemaire doubling on string bass).

The virtuosi will arrive in the week of the festival for an intensive rehearsal period. Concert performances will include Jelly Roll Morton 'in other bands' and 'rare Jelly', Clarence Williams, Jimmie Noone. Jean Goldkette 'before Bix', Goofus Five, Bunny Berigan and 'Music from the Weimar Republic'. The American and European musicians will, of course, be joined by an equally illustrious British contingent; Rico Tomasso, trumpet, Richard Exall, reeds, 'bone men Alistair Allan and Graham Hughes, pianist Martin Litton, Martin Wheatley and Spats Langham, guitars (and banjos!), string bassists Malcolm Sked, Phil Rutherford and Richard Pite (Sked and Pite doubling on brass bass), drummers Pite, Nick Ball and Nick Ward, and violinist Emma Fisk. Last but by no means least, London based Aussie reedsman Michael McQuaid, a key figure helping to shape the future of the Classic Jazz Party.

In addition to set-piece concerts there will be late night jam sessions into the early hours and a hugely popular CD, vinyl and book stall. And if you're a dancer then this event is made for you!    

The four star Village Hotel is no more than a Buddy Bolden blast from West Allotment. Perhaps a better marker is Whitley Bay. Access to and from Newcastle city centre couldn't be easier - bus no. 309 (from Haymarket) stops right outside the hotel's front door and the Metro (Tyne and Wear's rapid transit rail network) calls at nearby Northumberland Park from which bus no. 19 drops off at the hotel. If you're feeling energetic why not walk it (fifteen minutes max)?

Weekend tickets are selling fast. As of today (October 1st) just 21 three-day tickets remain on sale. They won't last long, don't hang around. World class musicians, superb jazz, all for £160. Don't delay, book now! Visit: www.whitleybayjazzfest.com
Russell.

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