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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

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, September 24, 2020

Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone - Sept. 24

Jim McBriarty (clarinet, vocals); Lawrence McBriarty (trombone); Brian Bennett (banjo); Bill Colledge (bass guitar); Fred Thompson (drums, vocals) + John Broddle (vocals) 

The Vieux Carré Jazzmen were quick out of the blocks when pubs first reopened, initially performing in the Holystone's pub beer garden, more recently indoors. Now it's face coverings on entry, face coverings when moving around the premises, face coverings to exit, this is the gig-going experience, seemingly for the next six months. Today's inclement weather no doubt deterred some, no doubt others opted to forego the 'new normal'. The VCJ set sail on the little heard Mezz Mezzrow-Sidney Bechet number Out of the Gallion

On board the Good Ship Holystone today were the McBriartys (Jim, clarinet, Lawrence trying out his recent eBay purchase, a nice-sounding King trombone), the unobtrusive Bill Colledge, bass guitar and singing drummer Fred Thompson, all four skippered by Captain Brian Bennett. Why Don't You Go Down to New Orleans? sang McBriarty J. Presumably we were aboard the Good Ship Holystone sailing down the Mississippi. Alright, admittedly a bit of a stretch but use your imagination!

Fred Thompson sang about The Gypsy, an old Inkspots' tune, apparently. Mr J Broddle was in the house. Skipper Bennett motioned to John who made his way to the stand, wondering if he had to sing wearing a mask! Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams then I'll See You in My Dreams - two dreamy numbers to momentarily forget these nightmarish times. 

During the interval a near-disaster occurred. No one was in a mile of it (honest, guv'nor!) when...Captain Bennett's banjo, perched on a stool, slowly but surely toppled, crashing to the floor! No harm was done. Phew! 

Second set. Vocalists McBriarty and Thompson said they didn't know/couldn't remember the lyrics to Red Sails in the Sunset. Captain Bennett called up John Broddle, he would know it, and he did! The other McBriarty, Lawrence 'King' McBriarty, suggested Bugle Boy March. Captain Bennett pointed out the band was short of a bugler. McBriarty declared he would play the intro on his newly-acquired King. And off he went...playing the intro to Bourbon Street Parade! Bennett called an immediate halt. McBriarty said: Oh, aye, that was Bourbon Street Parade. Take two...Bugle Boy March. Hooray! 

The 1919 Rag added a bit pep to proceedings, drummer Thompson took it down again singing Float Me Down the River and with the time fast approaching three o'clock the VCJ said 'good afternoon' with a spritely Ain't She Sweet?  
Russell       

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