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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED PERMANENTLY!
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: King Bees @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Superb blues band.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

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

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

SSBB Crowdfunder launch to raise funds for three new albums!

(Press release)

The most asked question at our shows by audience members is: "do you have any CDs?"

With this crowdfunder we want to make some new recordings that will be a great addition to your music listening. So, we're aiming to produce three brand new CDs across the next 18 months... each with its own distinct flavour.

In the pipeline already was a “Strictly Smokin’  sings Ella Fitzgerald with Alice Grace” however Covid-19 has meant we’ve had to cancel our studio dates meaning it’s top of our list to get into the studio.

This album will be ten tracks that paint a broad picture of Ella’s career — we’re working with an exquisite string section to make sure this recording is as lush as we can possibly make it.

Number two on our list is a disc which takes in a section of our tour through the iconic image: “A Great Day In Harlem”.

We had such an amazing opening show at Gosforth Civic Theatre last April that we feel this music deserves recording within the context of the image and to have its story told through the narrative of the musicians who composed and performed.

And finally, disc number three: Strictly Smokin’  & Friends”.

This is the most ambitious of them all and a record of the amazing friendships we’ve developed with some of the UKs finest and most prolific jazz musicians and vocalists.

Each track will feature one of the amazing guests which we have brought to Newcastle — already confirmed: Mike Lovatt, Mark Nightingale, Hailey Tuck, Alan Barnes, Bruce Adams and Joe Stilgoe with more to follow.

The entire CD will be made up of brand new music and arrangements, created to spotlight the incredible musicianship of these jazz greats.
There is no doubt that these are ambitious projects with an ambitious goal - but we hope you'll be able to support us.

We have structured the rewards in our crowd funder to essentially be advance purchases of the albums. A download will cost £8 and a CD will cost £10 once they are produced - if you can support us by purchasing in advance we can throw everything we've got at these sessions and produce the best quality music and recordings, with the best jazz musicians in the region and the UK.
Of course, there are options to donate more significant amounts with rewards to match.
We can't wait to get into the studio, and for our audience to hear what we produce - they're going to be something rather special.
Video

3 comments :

Anonymous said...

:thumbs up:!

Patti said...

Yeah - this is such a super idea - and let's all us SSBB fans contribute whatever we can to support the band here!

Michael Lamb said...

Thank you Patti! 🎺🎺

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