Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Phillip Lutz: ''That [sight-reading], in turn, led to session work that was well-paying but unsatisfying and, after 18 months, he [John McLaughlin] unceremoniously quit. But he fortuitously hooked up with a couple of fellow northerners, organist Mike Carr and drummer Jackie Denton. They provided entrée to London's premier jazz club, Ronnie Scott's, periodically playing opening sets''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

The Things They Say!

Hudson Music: Lance's "Bebop Spoken Here" is one of the heaviest and most influential jazz blogs in the UK.

Rupert Burley (Dynamic Agency): "BSH just goes from strength to strength".

'606' Club: "A toast to Lance Liddle of the terrific jazz blog 'Bebop Spoken Here'"

The Strictly Smokin' Big Band included Be Bop Spoken Here (sic) in their 5 Favourite Jazz Blogs.

Ann Braithwaite (Braithwaite & Katz Communications) You’re the BEST!

Holly Cooper, Mouthpiece Music: "Lance writes pull quotes like no one else!"

Simon Spillett: A lovely review from the dean of jazz bloggers, Lance Liddle...

Josh Weir: I love the writing on bebop spoken here... I think the work you are doing is amazing.

Postage

17586 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 860 of them this year alone and, so far, 5 this month (Dec. 2).

From This Moment On ...

December

Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.
Mon 09: Trio Grand @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: James Birkett Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 10: Customs House Big Band @ All Saints Church Hall, Cleadon. 7:30pm. £6.00. The CHBB’s annual Xmas concert featuring Ruth Lambert. A BYOB gig!

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Cath Stephens’ improvisation workshop @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 4:30-6:00pm. Collaborative group focusing on vocal improvisations.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Second Wednesday in the month.
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £27.00. (inc. three -course meal).
Thu 12: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:00-6:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 12: Stuart Turner @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 12: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Jeremy McMurray (keys); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Donna Hewitt (tenor sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Ron Smith (bass).

Fri 13: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
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: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Customs House Big Band @ Stocksfield Community Association. 7:00pm. Featuring Ruth Lambert.
Fri 13: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 13: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. First night of two.
Fri 13: Ransom Van @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 13: Boys of Brass @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 9:00pm. £10.00.

Sat 14: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:15pm. Free but ticketed.
Sat 14: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm.
Sat 14: Red Kites Jazz @ Staiths Café, Autumn Dr., Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14 Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. Second night of two.
Sat 14: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 15: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 12 noon. £8.50. Xmas party feat. Musicians Unlimited + Customs House Big Band. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 2:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Mitch Laddie Band @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb blues power trio.
Sun 15: Leeway @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sun 15: Alligator Gumbo @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Monday, March 29, 2021

The Saratoga Jazzmen, a forgotten band - From Gordon Solomon


(Left to right: Roy Willis, Stan Martin, Gordon Solomon, Peter Gascoigne, Bill Brooks, Marshall Walker. Peter is holding the Breda Jazz Festival trophy won by the band in 1982.)

The band was formed in the late 1970's by clarinetist Barry Soulsby. Barry lived in Cramlington and managed to get a residency at the Plough pub nearby. The session ran every two weeks for about a year and initially featured Peter Gascoigne trumpet, Barry Soulsby clarinet, Brian Chester trombone, John Wheatley bass, Clive Gray banjo and Chas Coles drums. I became involved because Brian Chester was working a shift system at the DHSS in Longbenton so I used to dep for him when he couldn't make it.

After a time the band moved to the Corner House in Heaton and ran very successful Tuesday night and Sunday lunchtime sessions which continued for over two years. By this time the personnel had changed. Barry left and was replaced by Steve Andrews, then Jim Ruddick and finally Stan Martin. Marshall Walker took over on drums and I replaced Brian on trombone. Bill Brooks came in on bass and Roy Willis, swinging on guitar, replaced Clive Gray. It was this band that travelled to Holland in 1982 as a last minute entry into the Breda International Jazz Festival. Much to our delight we carried off first prize in the Jazz Band Competition.

Much has been written about the success of the River City Jazzmen winning the same competition in 1984, but it seems to have been forgotten that the Saratoga band pulled off the same achievement two years earlier, quite significant when you think that of all the bands from all over the world that have won this competition two were from Newcastle! (Howay the Lads!).

The band hit top form in Breda, I remember one concert in the main market square when the crowd became so large that the surrounding area was blocked and they had to stop running the trams. It's sobering to realise that only Roy Willis and myself are still here. Anyhow, the band held together for a short time after Breda and then drifted apart, as all bands eventually do.                                                     

Happy days indeed!

Gordon Solomon.

Other Breda photos by Lance

12 comments :

NeilC said...

I trained as a Cobol Programmer in 1980 at DHSS as it was vaguely recall Brian Chester but certainly remember Peter who did some of my induction training great guy . At the time I wasn't really aware he was in a band until the very last day and he left us to finish up whilst he was off to travel to a gig .

Patti said...

Great memories, Gordon! I think this must have been before we moved back to Newcastle in 1982. I do remember Peter G from the Lonsdale, though - and how about that trip to Breda in 1984 or 1985, when the River City won that fantastic prize! It was a long coach ride, I remember!

Roy Willis said...

Peter Gascoigne and myself (Roy Willis) continued to play at the Corner House and were joined by other well-established north-east musicians and further trips to Breda were successfully made.

Roly said...

I remember the Corner House weekly Saratoga sessions with great fondness. Usually a full room and a great atmosphere. Happy Days.

Gordon Solomon. said...

Roly, I remember looking forward to you playing banjo/guitar with the band on the occasions when you helped out. You were much appreciated by the audience. As you say, Happy Days.

Steve Andrews said...

I hate to start a comment with "actually", but actually the Saratoga Jazzmen started in or around 1972 in the upstairs room at Bambra's Music Hall in the Bigg Market. Barry Soulsby did start it - he was playing clarinet with the Vieux Carre at that time, so he got Gassy in on trumpet and Brian Chester on Trombone from the VC. Johnny Handle either played piano or just sat in - the one I recall best was Bert Lamb. An old banjo player from the '20's called Sam Warwick played for a while, too. Can't remember bass and drums but could have been Wheatley and Marshall Walker. Brian had to do fortnightly shifts at the Ministry of Pensions, so they got me in to fill the trombone chair once a fortnight on tenor - probably because I was depping for Barry with the VC anyway, and in fact I took over from him in 1973 with that band. I think the band faded away after that residency finished until the late '70's when Barry revived it, as Gordon said. Barry got Gassy in again, who was at a bit of a loose end because the VC were not playing much by then, and Gassy took it over after Barry left. It was at this time that the band started playing at the Corner House (of happy memory). I also think that The Saratoga won Breda in 1981, not '82, because that was the year the Savannah Syncopators - the first Newcastle band to play at Breda Jazz Festival - came fourth. We were devastated and it wasn't made easier by the fact that we were sharing the 'bus home with an exultant (rightly so!) Saratoga!

Russell said...

I bet those on the bus trip home were a little pie-eyed! Incidentally, Bambra's is currently undergoing major renovation work. Watch this space...

Gordon Solomon said...

Hi Steve, and yes, I'm sure you're correct with the details, I'm older than you and the memory plays tricks. You've jogged my memory however, and I recall depping with the band at Bambra's but with Harry Stevenson on clarinet. I also remember actor Ian Hendry, who was appearing at the Theatre Royal, bursting into the room in a very drunken state, grabbing the microphone and singing The Saints while we were playing Black and Blue!

Lance said...

Ian Hendry used to also show up at the NBB gigs at the University Theatre when he was in town.

I've still got the Breda programmes from 1981 and 1982, The 1982 one has autographs from Guy Lafitte, Bob Wilber and Warren Vaché. I'll have to get Gordon, Steve and Roy to belatedly sign it!

Lance said...

"Bambra's" should read "Balmbra's" - just saying...

Steve Andrews said...

I've just looked at the cup the Sav. Syncs won for 3rd place in the Breda Jazz Concours, and it says 1979 on it, so 1980 must surely have been the year the Saratoga won - we got 4th that year! Memory playing tricks.....Dave Kerr will be able to confirm, he was the only one who was sober(ish)! I know we only played there in 1979 and '80 (3rd & 4th prize respectively, so we quit while we were ahead!). The next year I didn't play, but met my wife Ans there and we've been together nearly 39 years now!

Lance said...

Looking at the 1981 programme it does refer to The Saratoga Jazzmen as being winners the previous year so 1980 was indeed the year they won.

I recall one year that Stan Martin won the Outstanding Soloist prize.

Blog Archive