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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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

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. SOLD OUT!
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.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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, December 11, 2019

Middlesbrough Jazz & Blues Orchestra @ Dormans Jazz Club Middlesbrough - Dec.5

(Review by Ron H)

A 23 piece band + vocalists led by trombonist Christine Britland played to an enthusiastic capacity audience drawn from all age groups. 

The night began with the aptly named Strike up the Band followed by American Patrol both ideal numbers to show the audience how well they all played together giving that nice big band sound.

Vicky Jackson then took to the stage to sing the classic Georgia On My Mind before the band played an impressive version of John Coltrane's Blue Train with a nice tenor sax solo from Jim Madrell.

After This Masquerade the flamboyant Django sang Zoot Suit with nice sax solo from Dave Vaughan then the band played the Pink Panther Theme, followed by an impressive alto sax solo from Donna Hewitt on  Mas Que Nada.

Vicky went on to sing Proud Mary and  Respect before Barry sang Nice And Easy then a fine swinging Big Spender all going down well with the audience.

After the band played 720 and Bare Necessities with trumpet solo from Neil Brodie, Django finished the first set with Jump Jive And Wail.

Sean Steel started the second set with a swinging drum intro to Sing Sing Sing, followed by Fancy Pants and Stray Cat Strut.

Ron Smith drove Brick House throughout with great bass playing before Kate Bulman left the trumpet section to sing Baby it's Cold Outside as a duet with Django.

Kate then showed her vocal talent with the seasonal Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Fly Me To The Moon and Santa Baby.

After a bass intro Little Brown Jug included nice contributions from Frank on trumpet and Christine on trombone.

A nice version of the Duke’s Caravan led to the swinging Lady Is A Tramp with vocals from Barry. An amusing George Formby style Chinese Laundry Blues featured Donna on clarinet and Django singing.

Shiny Stockings featured a fine piano solo from Dave Archbold
Chatanooga Choo Choo with a vocal duet from Kate and Django and then the second set was finished with Perdido and Mission Impossible. Apart from the demanded encore of Music To Watch Girls By.

With a mixed and well thought out selection of numbers the band, playing with excellent dynamics, provided the appreciative audience with a great night of musical entertainment.

I must apologize for missing some of the soloist contributions as I did not catch all of their names.

Once again thanks go to the management and staff of Dormans Club for their help and support to enable us to run the jazz club.
Ron H

1 comment :

Unknown said...

The band is now a lot better than we were years ago.

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