Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 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

18083 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1047 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 14), 61.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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

Sunday, April 04, 2021

The Pasadena Roof Orchestra live streaming from Ronnie's - April 4

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Duncan Galloway couldn't be at Ronnie's tonight, being stuck in Germany, Covid travel restrictions and all that. In the absence of the Pasadenas' frontman it was down to pianist Simon Townley to handle the announcements. The concert began with a good ol' good 'un, South Rampart St Parade. 

Tom 'Spats' Langham got to sing all the numbers which are normally the preserve of Galloway, so, an extra ration of next to nowt for our classic jazz era crooner! Spats the vocalist joined forces with 'bone man Adrian Fry on I Got a Right to Sing the Blues, Fry soloing. A hot take on Business in F as played by the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra featured Oliver Wilby (Glenn Miller Orchestra UK) blowing a swinging tenor chorus. 

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
From Fletcher Henderson to Al Bowlly of the British dance band era and Spats singing Ray Noble's The Very Thought of You. At this point in the proceedings more than seven hundred were online, on YouTube alone! You Ought to See Sally on Sunday (comp. R. Noble, as sung by A. Bowlly) heard Spats' vocals, Oliver Wilby's warm-toned tenor and precision ensemble playing. It Don't Mean a Thing put string bassist Dave Berry in the spotlight ably supported by his rhythm section buddies.  

The orchestra struck up High Society (Malcolm Baxter, trumpet, Robert Fowler's clarinet)...a cast iron choice! If I Had a Talking Picture of You served as a fitting tribute to the late Keith Nichols who arranged many of the PRO's charts. Well said Mr Townley. And to close - in 'normal times' the dance floor would have filled up in double quick time - Happy Feet. 

(Screenshot collage by Ken Drew)
Professional isn't the word, the Pasadena Roof Orchestra played a memorable gig, and, of course, they were ready with an encore...Nagasaki at what Keith Nichols liked to call 'tempo de tear-arse' which, by tradition, concluded with a few bars of Home in Pasadena.   
Russell

Dave Ford (trumpet); Malcolm Baxter (trumpet); Robert Fowler (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Oliver Wilby (tenor sax, clarinet); Dai Pritchard (alto sax, clarinet); Adrian Fry (trombone); Dave Berry (double bass, sousaphone); Simon Townley (piano); Tom 'Spats' Langham (banjo, guitar, vocals); Dom Sales (drums)

Set list: South Rampart St Parade; I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby; Paddlin' Madelin' Home; Beau Koo Jack; East St Louis Toodle-Oo; Anything Goes; I Got a Right to Sing the Blues; Business in F; The Very Thought of You; The Casa Loma Stomp; You Ought to See Sally on Sunday; It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing; If I Had a Talking Picture of You; A Flower is a Lovesome Thing; Happy Feet; Nagasaki; Home in Pasadena. 
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