Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

From This Moment On

August

Mon 03: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 03: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Saturday, January 16, 2021

A Wake-up Call for Bop Van Winkle

Jazz? Love it man! I really dig the jive. Now that I’ve woken up after my big sleep, boy that Brown Ale sure has a kick, I can’t wait to have a shave and get down to the New Orleans Club and hear Ronnie McLean and the Panama Jazzmen. That guy sure plays a mean trombone.

You’re telling me Ronnie’s gone – Gone where? Touring again with Disley and Hastings? Up there? Man, it just shows you that only the good die young although I guess they made an exception in Ronnie’s case. And now you’re telling me the club’s been turned into an Indian Restaurant. Is nothing sacred?

Well, I haven’t got eyes for a Vindaloo so I’ll head across town to The Downbeat for the all-nighter. My old buddy Crombie will be on the door, he’ll let me in. That Emcee Five plays my kind of bebop – Hey-ba-ba-re-bop!

The Downbeat’s no more? Crombie’s dead and so are the brothers Carr?

Newcastle’s finished! I’m gonna jump on the good old steam train and take me, my LPs and my Slim Jim ties down to London. Ronnie Scott’s opened a place on Gerrard St. Zoot Sims played there maybe Ronnie will book him again.

You’re kidding me? Ronnie’s dead? Zoot’s dead? And the club’s now in Frith St and it’s all posh?

England’s finished, I’m off to New York. 52nd St. here I come. Cut it with the cats at Bop City – they named me after that club, or was it the other way round? I’ll soon be hi-fiving it with Diz and Monk just you wait and see.

Bop City and all the clubs on The Street are gone? And if I go around hi-fiving I’ll end up in jail or joining Diz and Monk up there?

Maybe Paris then, Brexit? Don't know him but if he's good I wanna hear him - oh, I see, but I can still go to Paris can't I? Just gotta fill in the forms, get the jabs and wait and see.

You know what? I’m gonna go back to the Land of Nod. Best take a bottle of the old brown dog with me to help me on my way – I’m gonna need it. See you again or maybe not. Now where did I put that bottle opener ...?

Bop Van Winkle.

(Interview by Lance)

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