Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 2026

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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 bf.

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, December 16, 2020

Kansas Smitty's live streaming Louis Armstrong's Town Hall Concert - Dec. 15

Enrico Tomasso (trumpet, vocals); Pete Horsfall (trumpet, vocals); Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals): Daniel Higham (trombone); Joe Webb (piano); Will Sach (double bass); Jas Kayser (drums)

(Photos courtesy of Ken Drew)

The 'Town Hall Concert' tag encouraged large numbers to log on. In reality Rico Tomasso (Armstrong) and co roamed far and wide, back to the Hot Fives and Sevens of some two decades before the much vaunted 1947 NYC date. Historical accuracy aside, this Kansas Smitty's live stream would prove to be an absolute barnstormer. 

Struttin' with Some Barbecue opened the one hour set. The whoops and hollers from the lucky few in the socially-distanced audience said everything...this what what we've all been missing! The excitement-o-meter threatened to explode as Rico/Louis and a cookin' rhythm section almost blew the roof off the place. 
Pete Horsfall's deferential role as Bobby Hackett and Adrian Cox as Peanuts Hucko, took it down a notch on Do you Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans?  The audience reaction? Every bit as vociferous as before. Horsfall himself sang Earl Hines' Monday Date. 

Highlights from this Kansas Smitty's session were many, perhaps none better than Rico doing his best Louis with a marvellous On the Sunny Side of the Street with 'bone man Dan Higham scoring as Jack Teagarden, or perhaps Vic Dickenson. It was noticeable that the younger members of the band - Joe Webb, Will Sach, Jas Kayser, Dan Higham - were wreathed in smiles, they were definitely enjoying themselves! 

Royal Garden Blues almost caused a riot, Kansas Smitty's speakeasy fortunate not to be raided by the boys in blue: 
'Allo, 'allo, 'allo! What's goin' on 'ere, then? Kansas Smitty's Jack on the door: Er? Nothing much, officer, we're just havin' ourselves a party. Horsfall/Hackett and Joe Webb/Dick Cary took it upon themselves to cool it. Our duo calmed the situation with a respectful take on Dear Old Southland.

Time for two more; Rico and Adrian sharing the vocals on Old Rockin' Chair and on to the grand finale. Rico/Louis thanked his band mates for making it a memorable occasion and with that, Jas Kayser, learning on the job, had a ball soloing on Tiger Rag. The odds are Rico was thinking: These guys are good, and they're so young! A cracking session, Kansas Smitty's is the gig, log on for free (donations appreciated) at eight, Tuesday to Friday.  
Russell     
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