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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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. CANCELLED! 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

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.

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

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Come this way ma'am!

(By Russell)
The following is based on a true story.

So there we were attempting to gain entry to the US of A through Uncle Sam's pre-clearance facility at Dublin Airport on the pretence of attending a country music festival in Wisconsin. Shoes off, keys, mobiles, all scanned, now to get past US Border Control...

Fingerprints...check, perfunctory questions: Reason for visit? Trying to be  nonchalant, sounding casual: Attending a country music festival in Wisconsin. Did it sound convincing? You're clear to go through, sir. Yeah, the sap bought it! My travelling companion approached the security checkpoint. Same drill, not quite the same result. Fingerprints...Ah, one moment ma'am! Damn, they were onto us! Come this way, ma'am. My companion protested: What's wrong? I'm going to a country music festival. I'm innocent. They weren't buying it. She was looking at a stretch of ten to fifteen in San Quentin.

We were escorted to the US 'Admissibility Review Area'. We waited and waited. US Border Control officers were busy 'interviewing' dodgy looking characters. Come on, you expect me to believe that? A look of concern, or was it terror, was etched across the face of the suspect. But I can explain...They were having none of it: Sure you can, said a sceptical, stoney-faced type. A couple of heavies stood nearby waiting to apply more effective interview 'techniques'. 

My companion was called to the desk. Okay, ma'am. Your prints don't match those on our database. How do you figure that? Stay cool, baby! I...I can't understand it said my companion. Sure, you don't said the stoney-faced one. Things were looking bad. The stoney-faced one went over to whisper something into the ear of the heavies. They looked like specialists in bespoke cement overcoats. Then, out of the blue: You're free to go, ma'am. Enjoy your trip to the USI sure do love that country music, ma'am!

Perhaps we'll never know why or how we were sent on our way. We exited via a side door. No pictures! (see photo). Little did they know we were heading to a jazz festival! 
Russell

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