Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 2026)

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

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Scotty Adair (drums).

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

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Vieux Carre Jazzmen @ The Holystone, North Tyneside - Feb 27

(Review by Russell)

it was a beautiful blue sky day. At the Holystone pub the Vieux Carre Jazzmen remembered Dave Rae. The band's weekly residency opened with the spiritual Just a Little While to Stay Here, a number played countless times by Dave who sadly died a few days ago. 

As tradition has it, the show must go on and Brian Bennett and the lads continued with Jim McBriarty singing Jealousy. The VCJ's other band singer, Fred Thompson, sang an old favourite in Way Down Yonder in New Orleans. The five piece, all seated (they're getting on, you know!), came up with a wide variety of material including Jim McBriarty singing Willie Nelson's Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (there was a marked similarity in vocal style with Ryan Baer of New Orleans based Frog and Henry). Drummer Thompson sang Alice Blue Gown then, in good old crooner fashion, East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)

An interval/start of the second set treat featured a cameo appearance by the Cheeky Girls - aka Lynne and Pat - singing (Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey. The 'girls' should get themselves along to the Black Swan jam session! 

BSH is always keen to contribute to the jazz economy - two quid spent on raffle tickets - and, for once, won a bottle of white, thank you very much!

Mary Wore a Golden Chain paid further tribute to bandleader, banjoist/guitarist and vocalist Dave Rae. Fred Thompson reprised the Ink Spots' hit The GypsyDr Jazz ( a request) heard from Jim McBriarty, who, it should be said, played fine soprano sax and clarinet throughout the afternoon, and the other McBriarty, Lawrence, sat comfortably with a pint at hand blowing leisurely trombone. 

Crazy spotlighted the McBriartys, Jim on clarinet and vocals, Lawrence on 'bone and John Smith's. It was time to go but not before the Holystone's dancing chef emerged from the kitchen with a tub of ice cream. Guess the tune? Yes, Ice Cream! The Vieux Carre Jazzmen can be found at the Holystone pub every Thursday, one o'clock, free admission. 
Russell
               
Jim McBriarty (soprano sax, clarinet, vocals); Lawrence McBriarty (trombone); Brian Bennett (banjo); Bill Colledge (bass guitar); Fred Thompson (drums, vocals) + The Cheeky Girls: Lynne & Pat (vocals).

1 comment :

Brian Bennett said...

Jim’s vocal was in fact ‘JEALOUS’ a 1924 song by Tommie Malie & Dick Finch, music by ‘Little’ Jack Little, whereas ‘JEALOUSY’ is a tango tune recorded by Frankie Laine - Jim will probably sing it next week.

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