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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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ 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

Friday, April 30, 2021

Ten Irish Jazz Musicians from the 1960s and '70s: No. 2 - Tony Drennan

The piano player with the Butler Fox band (see No. 1) was a delightful and very gentle man named Tony Drennan. He was totally dedicated to jazz, and piano in particular, sometimes to the detriment of the more practical things in life it must be said. While his favourite piano player was Teddy Wilson, he was an excellent exponent of both boogie woogie and stride piano and was a big fan of Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson and Fats Waller. At any Butler Fox band session he would always be given the opportunity to play a couple of boogie solos, Honky Tonk Train Blues being one of my favourites.

During his career Tony Drennan played many regular gigs and concerts in Dublin and throughout Ireland and was often called upon to support visiting artists from the UK and US. Along with other Irish jazz musicians he played with Bud Freeman on a now very rare album recorded in 1976 Bud Freeman - The Man; Live in Dublin.

His love for music was passed on to his children and one son, Myles, is now one of Irelands most acclaimed jazz piano players (and he also plays drums to a high standard) and another, Anto Drennan, is a much sought after guitarist who has played with Genesis, Mike + the Mechanics, Clannad, Moving Hearts, the Corrs and many other groups.

Inspired by his playing and the fact that a good friend of mine was taking piano lessons from him, I signed up as well. However the difference was that my friend had quite a lot of musical ability whereas I had…….After a few sessions, Tony Drennan realised my lack of potential and rather than try and teach me to play he decided to try and educate me about jazz piano - a sensible decision.

Therefore lessons consisted of us listening to his record collection and then him demonstrating what the pianists were doing on his piano. It was at one of these lessons I first heard Art Tatum on record and was completely stunned by his playing. Tony didnt try to replicate his playing on the piano so it was not until I came to Newcastle that, much to my surprise and delight, I heard a local pianist play a sensational version of Art Tatums Tea for Two live. My equivalent of that madeleine cake moment in Proust.

JC

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