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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Ten British pianists who moved to America.

Ronnie Ball (1927 - 1984): Left for America in 1952. Played with Chuck Wayne, Kai Winding, Roy Eldridge, JATP, Buddy Rich, Warne Marsh, Art Pepper. More.

Victor Feldman (1934 - 1987): Left for America in 1955. Played with Woody Herman, Cannonball Adderley, Buddy De Franco, Mils Davis, Peggy Lee. More.

Dill Jones (1923 - 1984): Left for America in 1961. Played with Jimmy McPartland, Budd Johnson and other mainstreamers. More.

Marian McPartland (1918  - 2013): Left for America in 1945 after marrying trumpet Jimmy McPartland. More.

Ray Noble (1903 - 1978): Left for America in 1934. Formed big band that included Glenn Miller. Composer of Cherokee, The Very Thought of You, The Touch of Your Lips among others. More.

Joe Saye (1923 - ?): Left for America in 1955. Accompanied Dakota Staton and recorded with Barry Galbraith, Mundell Lowe, Herbie Manne and many others. More.

Ralph Sharon (1923 - 2015): Left for America in 1953. Long time accompanist (1958 - 2003) to Tony Bennett. More.

George Shearing (1919 - 2011): Left for America in 1947. Formed poll-winning quintet and recorded with many top singers such as Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Joe Williams and Mel Tormé. More.

Derek Smith (1931 - 2016): Left for America 1957. Many trio recordings, studio sessions,  toured with Benny Goodman, appeared at Newport with Dizzy Gillespie. More.

Eddie Thompson (1925 - 1986): Worked in America 1962 - 1972 including long residency at The Hickory House in Manhattan. Like Saye and Shearing he didn't allow his blindness to interfere with his career. More.

There were, of course, others most notably Dudley Moore although his success in America was as an actor rather than as a pianist. Sadly all of the above are now deceased. Are there any living Brits over there now making a name as a pianist?

Lance



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