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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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

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, April 15, 2021

Clark Tracey Quartet live streaming from Guildford Jazz - April 14

Simon Allen (tenor sax, soprano sax); Bruce Boardman (piano); Andy Cleyndert (double bass); Clark Tracey (drums)

A first gig of the year for Clark Tracey. An online, international audience of some three hundred people logged on, commented and listened as drummer Clark played a set of eight compositions written by Stan Tracey over the course of six decades. Joining Clark at the Boiler Room for this Guildford Jazz concert billed as The Clark Tracey Quartet Celebrating the Compositions of Stan Tracey were three of the best in the business - saxophonist Simon Allen, who first worked with the Traceys twenty years ago, bassist Andy Cleyndert who has been an ever-present in the Traceys' various ensembles since 1980 (!) and pianist Bruce Boardman.

Clark, son of Stan, put together a programme reflecting the variety and enduring quality of Stan Tracey's compositions. Keeping it simple, Clark proceeded to present the material in chronological order, starting with Euphony, written for the Victor Feldman Sextet way back in 1952. A regulation round of solos - Simon Allen, tenor sax, Bruce Boardman, piano, and new father of twins, Andy Cleyndert, bass - brought it home just how good these guys are! 

Afro-Charlie Meets the White Rabbit first heard on a 1962 radio broadcast, later to feature on Alice in Jazzland, put Boardman in the spotlight. Close your eyes and this was Stan Tracey/Thelonious Monk. Clark had the discographical detail at hand - well, he would, wouldn't he? - and shed light on the origin of the title Rainow at Five Mile Road. Any guesses? Simply a location, an observation on a family holiday on Jersey. 

Clark said he was pleased with how well the quartet was playing, considering they hadn't played together for quite some time - 'minimalist rehearsal' said CT. A co-composition (that's Stan and Clark), Pajaras Exoticas from Continental Driftalso pleased Clark given that the piece was written for an eleven piece band. Oh, yes, Clark grabbed a brief solo into the bargain. Pudding and Mince from the Dylan Thomas inspired A Child's Christmas concluded the quartet's work. There was, however, one more number. Bruce Boardman played Ballad for Loos (from The Flying Pig) as a solo piano feature. Clark revealed that he can no longer bring himself to play it, composed by Stan for his father who saw action during WW1.             
Russell

Set list: EuphonyAfro-Charlie Meets the White RabbitRainbow at Five Mile RoadHoney HillBendologyPajaras ExoticasPudding and MinceBallad for Loos

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

Clark mentioned that he had a gig in Newcastle in December. It’s going to be very special.

Anonymous said...

Clark did indeed mention the Newcastle gig, although it'll be with a different, but equally brilliant, line-up. Next year Clark intends to work regularly with Allen, Boardman and Cleyndert.

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