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

Saturday, May 08, 2021

KSTV: The Meters - May 8

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Artie Zaitz (guitar); Peter Daley (organ); Flo Moore (bass); Femi Koleoso (drums) + Giacomo Smith (alto sax)

The Meters defined the groove. From the mid-sixties through the seventies and beyond, the New Orleans' rhythm machine set the standard. This evening's session at Kansas Smitty's sought to bring something of that groove to the party. 

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Guitarist Artie Zaitz, in the region a couple of years ago with Moses Boyd at DJazz, welcomed online viewers from 'Streamsville'. A good line, we've been living in Streamsville for a year and more! The quartet, later to be augmented by Giacomo Smith blowing alto sax, locked, limpet-like, on to a groove, and for the next hour simply wouldn't let go. Bass and drums couldn't have been better - Flo Moore, heard at Sage Gateshead a while ago, laid down killer lines matched only by the brilliant groove merchant Femi Koleoso. Completing the line-up, recent Kansas Smitty's recruit, organist Peter Daley, setting the place alight with some smokin' lines of his own. 

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)

From the Meters' classic Cissy Strut, with Kansas Smitty's ace band referencing Miles' Jean Pierre, to Cardova to Look-Ka Py Py, to the one cover of the set, Sly and the Family Stone's Simple Song, this Saturday evening session proved to be as good as anything KSTV has presented, and that's saying something! If WT of Hoochie Coochie fame was watching, could it be he'll book these guys to play on Pilgrim St, Newcastle? If he does, it'll be a sellout!  Russell         
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1 comment :

NeilC said...

I saw Kansas Smitty's at the Sage a couple of years back in the smaller Hall 2 they were just superb but I was so disappointed by the numbers who attended I could see empty seats and not sure level 3 was even open I just don't understand it , the tickets were inexpensive , the musicianship was second to none yet people seemingly voted with their feet and decided not to attend , quite why it wasn't a sell out beggars belief.

Tuesday, May 11, 2021 9:28:00 am

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