February 2025
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: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.
Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.
Tue 25: ?
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: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde 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: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
MARCH 2025
Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Our historian in Hong Kong, Colin, came up with an interesting article and photo of the George Evans Orchestra which was resident at the Oxford Galleries, Newcastle, from 1951 to 1958. 
7 comments :
He used to turn up at The Porthole near the North Shields ferry landing and ask Munro Sutherland if he minded him sitting in for a few numbers. What a nice man and, of course, super tenor. I used to dep occasionally for Derek Dixon and it was an education and pleasure to stand behind him . On one occasion I had also brought my tuba - and he never complained! When I wanted to buy a bass sax George was very helpful, even steering me away from one that had been made out of two old ones.
I wonder what happened to his arrangements? I think Stan Coates had some from the Geraldo Orchestra.
For a while Stan Coates' band rehearsed at West Denton Social Club (the venue must have been down to Scotty Adair) and George Evans came along to work with the band. As John said, it was an education to work with him, likewise it was an education simply to sit and listen.
I once asked George what happened to the arrangements he'd done for Geraldo, and he told me he'd made a big bonfire in the back garden and burnt them! Oh dear!
Here’s my Dad with George - on telly in the early 80’s. George was such a lovely man. He and Dad used to have regular jam sessions in our house and I used to sit on the floor and listen for ages! Lovely memories 🙂
Dad played in his big band too, around the same time
https://youtu.be/tZyvZDgFskw
...and I remember going to listen to them play at The Grey Horse in Boldon. It was never terribly well attended but that didn’t matter - the music was always fab and it was a privilege to hear George play (and of course Roy).
Alan Rudd kindly pointed me in the direction of an article by Leslie Evans on his brother George Evans which is very interesting. I have added the link to the originnal post so, Steve, maybe he didn't have a bonfire after all!
Stan Coates told me that he had George Evans' arrangements. There was certainly a huge amount of stuff in his garage! However, these could have been for Geraldo. In any event, the contents of Stan's garage went to a bari player in the BBC Big Band. A white van arrived and was loaded up with everything - including all the pre-WW2 'Mickey Mouse' stocks and also Alistair Atkinson's library which Stan had promised me! Stan also had some of the special mutes handmade by George but I don't know where they ended up.
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