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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

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, November 27, 2019

Jam Session @ The Black Swan - Nov. 26

(Review by Lance).

One of the more sedate jams that was, nevertheless, not without its merits and quite often less is more and so tonight proved.

The house trio of Stu, Paul and Rob set the tone with Lover, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and Take the A Train. Played with their customary precision and aplomb, it told any newcomers, and there were a few, that they would be in safe hands should they take the plunge.

Steve Summers is no newcomer and he set out his stall with compelling versions of Wave and Well You Needn’t. His booting tenor as tough as they come.

A new face, and one that could have launched a 1000 ships on the way here had there been any ships to launch. Angelina, a German/Russian student sang Angel Eyes quite delightfully. From now on, to me that song will always be called Angelina Eyes! This was followed up with Lullaby of Birdland and left me wanting more.
It seemed appropriate that I was drinking Tyneside Blonde.

It was a challenge for any singer to step up after Angelina but the home team’s Minnie Fraser can handle any situation and her versions of God Bless the Child and Darn That Dream kept us in the game bringing us up to half time.

Whilst the players were in the dressing room sucking lemons another newcomer occupied the piano stool. Joe Johnson played an original composition that was impressive with lots of changes of tempo and interesting chords. We never did get to know the name of the tune, maybe, as of yet, it’s untitled.

The second set got underway with more surprises. Steve Summers changed from tenor to sop sax and began playing Body and Soul. This encouraged the sartorially splendid – he makes the late George Melly look like your average man in the street – Ray Burns to leap in and take the vocal as well as having a blast on Harmonica.

‘Showtime’ Gray joined the party and Michael Mather played drums. Bye Bye Blackbird and Wayne Shorter’s Footprints kept things humming.

I opted for another Tyneside Blonde whilst Minnie went for Black Coffee before confiding that she Ain’t Misbehavin’ which was once more a cue for Burnsy to bag a few choruses. Mark Taylor played drums – another discovery!

Summers and Gray blew Billie's Bounce to smithereens then sought redemption in Excclusiastics from the Mingus Oh Yeah album – the one where he plays piano and sings Hog Callin’ Blues.

Minnie didn’t do any hog calling but sang That Old Black Magic.

I missed Black Orpheus and Blue Monk which wasn’t all I missed! The Metro didn’t turn up on time which meant I missed my connecting bus at Heworth and was beaten by a short head in the sprint for the one and only taxi in the rank.

Still, but a minor blip in an otherwise enjoyable evening!
Lance.

Paul Grainger (bass); Stu Collingwood (piano); Rob Walker (drums) + Steve Summers (tenor/soprano sax); David Gray (trombone); Ray Burns (harmonica/vocals); Michael Mather, Mark Taylor (drums); Joe Johnson (piano); Minnie Fraser, Angelina Smyschlajew (vocals).

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