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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

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

Friday, December 20, 2019

Classic Swing @ Jesmond British Legion - Dec 20

Tommy Moran (tenor sax); Jim McBriarty (alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet); Kieran Parnaby (trombone); Norman Brown (piano); Alan Rudd (double bass); Tommy Graham (drums); Olive Rudd (vocals)
(Review by Russell)

it's almost Christmas, isn't it? Things tend to be a bit rushed, don’t they? And, of course, every jazz gig during December seems to be an excuse for a party and/or buffet with a few beers. All this is a preamble to your reviewer confessing he forgot to take photographs at today's Classic Swing gig! 

Five days before Christmas, the Metro system shutdown, would anyone turn out for Classic Swing's seasonal knees up? They certainly did, what's more, raffle prizes galore and a buffet weren't to be sniffed at. Two deps in today - pianist Norman Brown and, on loan from the Strictly Smokin', trombonist Kieran Parnaby. 

A Tommy Moran composition to begin with - Jump for Jim - in typical small group swing style. A good start. Band vocalist Olive Rudd managed to organise the buffet and accept donations to the raffle in between singing a few numbers, the first of which, a seasonal Winter Wonderland, featured solos from Jim McBriarty, clarinet, Kieran Parnaby and Moran blowing tenor. Johnny Hodges' territory on Good Queen Bess heard a rare thing...a bass solo from Alan Rudd! 

McBriarty sang about a Honeysuckle Rose with a fine piano solo from veteran Norman Brown. Olive Rudd returned to the stand to insist It's a Sin to Tell a Lie with McBriarty on soprano sax and Brown quoting White Christmas just as regular band pianist Colin Haikney dropped by - it was good to see Colin out and about. 

At this time of year raffles tend to yield a bumper crop and here at Jesmond Legion no fewer than nine prizes were up for grabs. Your reviewer spied a box of Milk Tray. First number out the hat - no.856...YES!!! Your reviewer bagged the Milk Tray! Another pint of Old Speckled Hen to celebrate.

Second set: A first outing for Moran's The Master's Magic couldn't have been more apposite with Colin Haikney sitting listening. Clarinet, alto, trombone, tenor, piano, bass - all took a few bars, Mr Haikney nodded in appreciation. 

Rockin' Round the Christmas Tree tempted Olive Rudd back to the stage (pianist Brown couldn't resist quoting Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer) and before long the three o'clock finish loomed with, somewhat inevitably, our vocalist encouraging the room to sing along to White Christmas

Please note - Classic Swing won't be at the Ship Inn on Christmas Eve nor New Year's Eve. Your next chance to hear the band will be on Friday 17 January at Jesmond Legion, from which date the West Jesmond residency will be a third Friday in the month affair.  Russell

1 comment :

Lance said...

Ken, Ken Drew, where are you now, now that we need you?!

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