Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 2026)

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

18445 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 309 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 20 ) 43,

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

From This Moment On

April

Thu 23: FILM: Big Mama Thornton: I Can’t Be Anyone But Me @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 6:15pm. Dir. Robert Clem (2025).
Thu 23: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 23: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 23: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra & Musicians Unlimited @ ARC, Stockton. 8:00pm. £19.00. inc. bf.

Fri 24: Noel Dennis Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. Dennis, Mark Willams, Andy Champion. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Trio Grand @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Ben Vince + The Exu @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £14.33., £11.16, £8.00. A ‘jazz adjacent’ gig!
Fri 24: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £13.20 (inc. bf).
Sat 25: Giles Strong Quartet @ Hindmarsh Hall, Alnmouth. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Sat 25: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Old Cinema Launderette, Durham. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £13.20 (inc. bf).
Sat 25: ‘Portrait in Evans’: Noa Levy & Alan Barnes w. Paul Edis Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £24.00. Sage Two. ‘Portrait in Evans’. Levy, Barnes, Edis, Andy Champion & Steve Hanley.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 26: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Ni Maxine + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sun 26: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 26: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00., £7.00.

Mon 27: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 27: House of Blues @ the Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £7.00., £5.00. advance. A student-led jazz session. ‘House of Blues’ is, perhaps, a misnomer.
Mon 27: Littlewood Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00 + bf, £7.00. + bf.

Tue 28: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:00pm. £10.00. + £1.00. bf. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Hackney Colliery Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £25.00.

Saturday, June 05, 2021

Knats in Nunsmoor Park - June 4

(Photo by Russell)
Ferg Kilsby (trumpet); Josh Mitchell-Rayner (keyboards); Stan Woodward (bass); King David Ike-Elechi (drums)

A socially distanced Friday evening in Nunsmoor Park (as the crow flies not too far from St James's Park, home to Newcastle United), pizza, beer, conversation, what's not to like? We were there to listen to four young musicians calling themselves Knats. BSH knew one of the quartet, otherwise they were an unknown quantity. A basic stage area, an awning affording the musicians a degree of protection from the elements - on this occasion from an early evening sun rather than rain - Knats were looking keen, far from mean, and ready to go...

(Photo by Russell)
Fretless bassist Stan Woodward handled the announcements, first up, Herbie Hancock's The Eye of the Hurricane. First impressions? Woodward, funking, grooving, this guy knows his way around his instrument! To his left, drummer King David Ike-Elechi. Where's he been hiding? Under a bushel? A tremendous player! Piano man, Josh Mitchell-Rayner, approximately sixteen years of age, is one to keep an eye on, we'll be hearing more from him, that's for sure. And the new boy, trumpeter Ferg Kilsby. We were there when young Ferg stepped into the lion's den that is the Black Swan jam session. It's the kind of session where if you can't cut it, you'll be eaten alive. Ferg cut it alright, and now, post-pandemic, it's clear our Tyne Valley horn player has taken several Giant Steps forward.    

(Photo by Russell)
More from Mr H - Maiden Voyage. It's a number that, in the wrong hands, can drag. Here in Nunsmoor no such worries. Trumpeter Ferg negotiated the composition's subtle twists and turns, pitching like a pro. Excellent stuff! Outdoor gigs are what they are, they have their attractions and distractions. Pizzas hot from the Northern Slice oven, liberal quantities of BYOB, kids dancing, big kids dancing...it's Friday night, what can you do? 

(Photo courtesy of
Elizabeth Gallagher)*
Caravan. When you hear it, you know a storm is brewing. King David behind the traps did the business. There Will Never Be Another You taken at a brisk tempo maintained the interest and, as we approached the end of two enjoyable sets, Josh at the keys brought in Seven Steps to Heaven. Knats exceeded expectations. The guys can be heard again, this time indoors, two weeks tomorrow (Sunday 20 June). The Globe (that's Newcastle Jazz Co-op's HQ on Railway Street just off Redheugh Bridge) is the place to catch them. It's a tenner admission for an eight o'clock start. Note - very few tickets remain unsold. Advance booking is essential (no walk-ups on the night), be quick, book now at: 
www.jazz.coop.             
Russell
* MP for Newcastle Central and Co-Vice Chair of APPJAG Chi Onwurah pictured afterwards with the band - Lance
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive