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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

1803759 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 480 of them this year alone and, so far, 58 this month (June 18).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00. CANCELLED!

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: David Gray's Flextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’.
Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

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 13, 2019

DUBB's Jazzy Xmas @ Durham Students' Union - Dec 12

(Review by Russell)

The seventh edition of Durham University Big Band's annual Christmas bash followed a familiar pattern - 1) Durham Students' Union Riverside Bar and Cafe was packed to the rafters with demob happy students drinking a 'Big Band Cocktail' (£3.50.), 2) DUBB (that's the big band) resplendent in an assortment of Xmas jumpers, similarly delighted with the arrival of end of term, 3) a set list of swinging big band charts and seasonal favourites.

Speaking of seasonal favourites...Santa Claus is Comin' to Town opened the show with one of DUBB's vocalists - Rob Singleton - eager to exercise the tonsils. Ailing band MD, trumpeter Honor Hornsby (chest infection) confined herself to playing section lead and technical troubleshooter leaving MC duties to trombonist Tommy Wise. Bemsha Swing featured solo contributions from former Early Bird pianist Ben Lawrence (a real asset to DUBB 2019-20), alto saxophonist Alex Howard-Vyse and trumpeter Jesse Turnock. 

Drinks were being consumed - some spilled, it was that kind of occasion! - at a rate of knots as the band's other singer, Ms Evie Hill, sang Let it Snow Let it Snow Let it Snow. Vocalists warmed up, Singleton led the partying crowd into a Winter Wonderland (arr Callum Au, the same arrangement favoured by the Strictly Smokin' Big Band) with smart section work by the five reeds. Hill returned to sing J Dilla's Fall in Love (more from Howard-Vyse, alto) before the band closed an enjoyable first set with something a little more conventional - Just Friends (solos from Lawrence, the impressive Chris Chung, trombone, and Matt Bartlett, tenor sax). 

Gordon Goodwin's arrangement of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen resumed matters. Chung (trombone) and James Petley (tenor sax) dug into Radiohead's 15 Step as did pianist Lawrence - good stuff! MD Honor Hornsby blew flugel on Always and Forever - a fine effort under the circumstances (our soloist not feeling 100% and performing to a room full of potentially distracting partying students). Robert Glasper's Ah Yeah arranged by 2019 graduate Zach Fox found favour with Durham's Bright Young Things then it was almost time to pack up and head to the bar but not before Singleton and Hill sang one more number - Frank Loesser's Baby, It's Cold Outside, yes, it was party time alright! 

One more, Bob Curnow's arrangement of the phenomenally successful Riverdance put drummer Michael Young in the spotlight and 'Mikey' duly produced an impressive display. Wait! You can't go to the bar yet! An encore was called for and won. Buddy Rich, Love for Sale from Big Swing Face, an excellent choice to end Michaelmas term and, as Tommy Wise informed us, DUBB wished a fond farewell to the band's excellent guitarist Tom Burgess who is moving on to pastures new. Alright, let's hit the bar!             
          
Honor Hornsby, Catherine Flanders, Dominic Purefoy, Jesse Turnock (trumpets); Alex Howard-Vyse (alto sax), Caroline Derrett (alto sax), Matt Bartlett (tenor sax), James Petley (tenor sax), Alex Wardill (baritone sax); Tommy Wise, Chris Chung, Peter Fewster, Dylan Morris (trombones); Tom Burgess (guitar); Ben Lawrence (piano); Isaac Merchant (bass guitar); Michael Young (drums); Rob Singleton (vocals), Evie Hill (vocals)  

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