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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

17985(and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 306 of them this year alone and, so far, 62 this month (April 26).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: International Jazz Day @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £16.00.; £14.00. adv.. Feat. Guido Spannocchi, John Pope & Steve Hanley + Take it to the Bridge participants + Open Mic Night participants.

MAY 2025

Thu 01: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Member’s Contribution.
Thu 01: Alabaster de Plume @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 01: Living in Shadows + OUTRI @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: The Shayo Experiment @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Shayo Oshodi & Liam Oliver.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ STACK, Seaburn. 4:30-6:15pm. Free.
Fri 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:00pm. £7.50. A ‘Nauta’s House’ gig featuring Nauta & guests Shayo Oshodi & David Gray.
Fri 02: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 02: Dom Pipkin @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Solo piano.
Fri 02: Abbie Finn Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00. + bf.

Sat 03: Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Summer Samba Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 03: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Postmodern Jukebox @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Sat 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £3.00. + bf.
Sat 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:30pm. Free.

Sun 04: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 04: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 04: Ben Crosland Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. 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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