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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, August 04, 2020

Book review: Jonny Dale - The Jonny Dale Experience

Liverpool drummer Jonny Dale has written his first book - The Jonny Dale Experience. Jonathan Philip Edward (aka "JPED"), born in 1949 in London, might not be a household name among jazz drummers but, nonetheless, he is a worthy subject for an autobiography. 

Having known and played with him for two years in the NW of the UK, I can assure one and all that he is a first rate professional. His beat is solid, he has an admirable stylistic range  and demonstrates a flexibility when working with a variety of bands that is remarkable.


Jonny's "experience" started in Wimbledon, growing up in a well to do family led by a patriarchal father, Philip Dale, with whom Jonny stayed  very close to throughout his life. The same went for the rest of the family of two siblings and his mother, Susan, who tragically died when Jonny was in his thirties. 

The warmth shown toward his family and close friends throughout the book gives the reader a strong sense of the magnanimous and benevolent nature of the author. He takes everyone that he encounters at face value and is deffo a glass half full kinda fella.

JPED immigrated to South Africa in the early 1970s, settling in Margate where he played with a number of bands in residencies at hotel and resorts which were pretty much the norm then. Nowadays,  those gigs, along with live music have all but disappeared.

Jonny's second wife, Simonne, a talented singer and percussionist who he met in Margate, was born and raised in Zimbabwe . They soon became engaged and married and have since produced two sons, Simon and Tim, both of whom have become fine musicians in their own right. 

The family returned to the UK in 1997 spending a few years in Sussex before moving to Liverpool in 2001. This move was prompted by an opportunity dictated by a higher calling that would also bring about Dale's return to jazz drumming. He had always maintained  jobs like managing gyms, travelling sales, and finally an executive role in an organisation called The Sweet Partnership

This post consisted of collecting coins from charity machines  throughout the NW - not a million miles from busking on the street! Happily, none of these aforementioned jobs lasted long enough to permanently sever his love, need and commitment to pursue his percussive proclivities, and since  age 65, JPED has remained a full time drummer. Thank God for that!

Dale's writing style exudes a playful freedom from the conventional rules of highbrow, academic, prose. He does not let himself capitulate to traditional syntax and punctuational standards. More of a Roads, as opposed to a Rhodes Scholar approach. His lengthy sentences are worthy of sentencing themselves, one could say. Despite this, the reader is still able to grasp the gist of his endearing  ramblings.

Currently, Jonny and Simonne Dale (known affectionally as "Jamonne" as they are inseparable in both music and day to day life) are very active on the Liverpool jazz scene Their 5-piece Latinised combo, "Sequoia" plays frequently and maintains  a residency at The Sefton Park Cricket Club. A  somewhat rustic, yet likable venue in a gentile, leafy part of South Liverpool that offers jazz on a biweekly basis.

Long live JPED and his heartwarming  account of his "experience"  as well has his rich contributions to Jazz in Liverpool.
Frank Griffith.

Available as an eBook via Amazon.

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