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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17972 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 293 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (April 22).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

Sat 26: Durham Alumni Big Band @ Number One Bar, Darlington. 12 noon. Free (donations).
Sat 26: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 26: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Elvet Methodist Church, Durham. 7:30pm. Tickets: £12.00. + bf. Duo performance.
Sat 26: Neil Cowley Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.50.
Sat 26: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 27: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Paul Susans, Russ Morgan.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: JustKing Jones @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.50. JustKing Jones (alto sax, soprano sax); Jordan Williams (piano); Jason Clotter (bass); Malcolm Charles (drums). Ace NYC outfit!
Sun 27: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 27: Swing Manouche @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00. Tickets from 01665 711388.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Ken Marley, Russ Morgan.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: ???

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

Sunday, January 26, 2020

The Shirt Tail Stompers @ DJam 2020, Durham Town Hall - Jan. 25

(Review/photos by Russell)

DJam is one of the north east's hidden gems. The long weekend Lindy Hop event in Durham City attracted dancers from far and wide. Classes, workshops, dances...there was something for everyone. Bebop Spoken Here stumbled across the event researching the tour itineraries of one or two high profile musicians. What's this? A gig for such and such somewhere in Durham? A dance event of some kind? Further research confirmed Steve Coombe's Shirt Tail Stompers would be part of DJam 2020 Lindy Hop Festival in the historic setting of Durham Town Hall. This was an event that could not be missed! 

Saturday evening's 'Masquerade Ball' in the Great Hall (stained glass windows, wood panelling, walk-in fireplace) featured swing dance DJs (PerdidoIt's Tight Like That and more), a screening of Bruce Ricker's 1979 documentary film about the Kansas City jazz scene The Last of the Blue Devils, three sets from the Shirt Tail Stompers and, of course, the DJam dancers. Early arrivals practiced their steps, some sat on the sidelines chatting, observing the scene. Some embraced the spirit of the occasion donning masks - after all this was a masquerade ball! 

As the floor filled with dancers the Shirt Tail Stompers took to the stage. Bandleader Steve Coombe led the fashion stakes sporting a pair of gold coloured shoes! The trumpeter's bandmates weren't far behind, suited and booted for the occasion. Lindy hop or swing dancers seemingly favour a particular tempo and Coombe's London septet happily obliged. The band - three frontline horns, guitar, piano, bass and drums - couldn't have been more professional playing to, and for, DJam's many patrons. 

Exactly Like You sang Coombe, Ain't She Sweet? a clarinet feature for Michael McQuaid then, switching to tenor sax, the amiable Aussie followed up on If I Had You. It was a pleasure to sit on the sidelines listening to an ace band and an education observing the many expert dancers doing their thing. All ages and abilities (beginners to advanced) took to the floor in what was clearly a non-competitive atmosphere. So, this was the world of Lindy Hop... 

BSH's readers will recognise some, perhaps all, of the names in the band. To Steve Coombe's left, trombonist Chris Lowe (Alex Mendham Orchestra), to his right, Michael McQuaid, reeds (The Vitality Five) and the boys in the engine room - the impressive Jake Gill (guitar) who performed at the Saville Exchange a little over a decade ago with Nick Gill's Byzantines, pianist Tom Kincaid (Alan Barnes, Scott Hamilton) who'll be in the region next weekend working with Denise Gordon at Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club, superb Belgian bassist Alex  Gilson (Joachim Caffonnotte) and 1920's 'Jazz Age' percussion maestro Nick Ball (The Vitality Five). Over three sets the septet ticked all the boxes; the non-dancing jazz fan dug the music, the dancer appreciated the music and the tempo, and the Town Hall's catering staff were seen to be shimmering, not unlike Kate, between tables. 

In an attempt to encapsulate the musical essence of DJam 2020 think small group Kansas City Basie - on screen in Ricker's film and brought to life by the Shirt Tail Stompers (Jive at Five). DJam 2020 Lindy Hop Festival was a truly memorable occasion. Given the opportunity Bebop Spoken Here would willingly attend DJam in the future! 
                   
The Shirt Tail Stompers: Steve Coombe (trumpet, whistle, vocals); Michael McQuaid (tenor sax, clarinet); Chris Lowe (trombone); Jake Gill (guitar); Tom Kincaid (piano); Alexandre Gilson (double bass); Nicholas Ball (drums).
 Russell.

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