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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.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

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.

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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