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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

Friday, August 21, 2020

Maine St. Jazzmen @ Sunniside Social Club - August 20

Herbie Hudson (trombone, harmonica, vocals); Ray Harley (trumpet); Jim McBriarty (clarinet, alto sax, vocals); Jimmy Cassidy (piano); John Hedley (bass guitar); Ian Hetherington (drums)

it was like old times - two gigs in a day! A lunchtime session with the Vieux Carré down at Holystone then this evening over in Sunniside the Maine Street Jazzmen were back in business. Encouragingly, at least as many, if not more, of the Maine Street's regular following turned out to hear the band for the first time in five months. 


Sunniside Social Club's committee insisted, rightly, that Herbie Hudson and the boys practice the art of social distancing by setting up on the club's purpose built stage rather than the usual arrangement which would see the band playing on the floor alongside the audience. The set list, drawn from HH's hefty pad of tunes, comprised a string of old favourites - MaggieChina BoyMama's Gone, Goodbye and more. 

The Maine Street's front line - Hudson, Ray Harley and Jim McBriarty - met up a week or two ago at the Vieux Carré's gig and managed to have a blow on a couple of numbers. It was as if they'd never been away.    

On the Sunny Side (Sunniside) of the Street could/should be the band's signature tune, encapsulating as it does Hudson's on stage, up beat demeanour and, of course, the venue's location (NE16 5NA, Borough of Gateshead). The interval: raffle (sold a pup), another Abbot Ale (not too bad at all) and a chat with John Hedley.

Second set, more of the same good time jazz. Trumpeter Ray Harley leading the line, blowing just great, Mr McBriarty (clarinet, alto sax, vocals) showing no signs of flagging on this, his second gig of the day, and band leader Hudson as energetic as ever (trombone, harmonica, vocals). The rhythm section, of the 'been-round-the block' variety, steered a steady course as HH called one familar number after another. 

Fidgety FeetOh, You Beautiful Doll, a second rendition of the day for Angry (vocalist McBriarty wasn't too angry, nor the tune's requester, it was simply good fun) and, perhaps the number of the night, Hudson singing, with due respect, Black and Blue.       

Sunniside is hardly an outpost, nevertheless it was good to see people making the effort to get along to a semi-rural location. One or two members of the band travelled a distance (80 miles round trip for one of them), they were there to play some jazz. Long may they continue.  
Russell

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