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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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: 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.

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, January 15, 2020

Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle - Jan 14

(Review by Russell)

Weather warnings were issued, flood defence measures were in place down on the Tyne and there was a match on at St James' Park. The likelihood was the first jam session of the year would be down on numbers - both participants and listeners. Well, perhaps the determination of all was somewhat underestimated. As the house trio opened with Dear Old Stockholm the Black Swan was filling up nicely and by the end of the night there would be the glorious sight and sound of a ten-strong ensemble blowing on a Bobby Timmons' favourite.  

Messrs Law, Grainger and Walker were in fine form. Pianist Alan Law just couldn't help swinging it...just what Dr Jazz ordered! A rare jam session appearance by Faye MacCalman (tenor sax), an equally rare sighting of vocalist Miriam McCormick and a debut performance by Sheila Herrick spiced-up what was already shaping up to be quite a night.

 
McCormick, an Indigo Jazz Voice, found herself working with some of the scene's big hitters. Singing It's Almost Like Being in Love and You Don't Know What Love Is, our vocalist shared the stand with Steve Summers (tenor sax) and Lawrence Harrison (guitar) with fine support from Alan Law. Herrick took courage by the scruff of the neck and, with MacCalman on tenor, did herself proud singing Ain't Misbehavin' and, with maestro Alan Law at the piano, a bluesy Fine and Mellow

A jam session favourite was in the house. Up from Teeside, sporting a natty hat, Jan Spencelayh sang a corking Cheek to Cheek with Jordan Alfonso blowing alto and the 'other' Harrison, Lawrence's guitar playing brother Charles, showing what he could do (a case of 'anything you can do...'!) 'Natty Hat' Spencelayh followed up with My Funny Valentine accompanied by Steve Summer's exquisite soprano sax and tightly muted phrasing from Black Swan newcomer Edgar Bell, trumpet. 

Three further names must be mentioned. In doing so, note there is an Early Bird session at the Lit and Phil on Saturday morning at 11:00am. Two graduates of Paul Edis' hothouse band were in town. Matt MacKellar sat-in and, as we have come to expect, the Berklee undergraduate demonstrated he has few equals here on Tyneside. Musing...wouldn't it be great to check out the Boston, Massachusetts jazz scene?! And the other former Early Bird, up from York, blowing alto sax...Faye Thompson. FT called Bye Bye Blackbird. Solo of the night, no question. FT must have been in the woodshed, fantastic stuff! It just so happened Steve Summers was on the number. Later the two saxophonists were observed talking, likely as not, all things saxophone. 

And finally, better late than never...it's Showtime! David Gray joined the fray, making it a tentet (there may have been more!) blast on Moanin'. MC Paul Grainger herded the jazz cats with aplomb, all the while anchoring the session on bass. If a bass player would like to come along to the next Black Swan jam session (Tuesday 28 Jan) Mr PG would be delighted to see you. As they say, PG could 'take five' and go to the bar.             
Russell

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Rob Walker (drums) + Faye MacCalman (tenor sax); Edgar Bell (trumpet); Charles Harrison (guitar); Miriam McCormick (vocals): Faye Thompson (alto sax); Lawrence Harrison (guitar); Steve Summers (tenor sax, soprano sax); Sheila Herrick (vocals); Matt MacKellar (drums); Jan Spencelayh (vocals); Jordan Alfonso (alto sax); David Gray (trombone)

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