Total Pageviews

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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

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.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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, June 06, 2021

The Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Radio Rooms, Berwick - June 6

(Photo by Russell)
John Faragher (clarinet, vocals); ? (trumpet); Ruth Alder-Bateman (piano, vocals); Brian Martin (banjo); Brian Smith (double bass); Les Turnbull (drums)

A new Sunday afternoon session in Berwick upon Tweed, new to BSH, that is, prompted a first visit to the Radio Rooms. Little did your correspondent know the old bridge across the Tweed was closed for repairs which necessitated a detour over the Royal Tweed Bridge. Oh, well, at least the sun was shining! 

Why the 'Radio Rooms'? Well, inside the 'live music and events space' on Main Street there is a collection of old radios. Everyone should have a hobby. The band in question, the Tweed River Jazz Band, can be heard every week playing its infectious, enthusiastic brand of Dixieland jazz. A sad aspect of the band's post-lockdown resumption is the loss of Peter Roughead. Trumpeter and band leader Mr Roughead died earlier this year. Addressing the audience clarinetist John Faragher said the Tweed River would continue in Mr Roughead's memory. All pesent welcomed Mr Faraghers words. 

Faragher leads by example with boundless energy and enthusiasm. Bassist Brian Smith and drummer Les Turnbull are old hands at this game and didn't require further instruction, likewise Brian Martin playing some half-decent banjo. Two full sets - 60 minutes x 2 - opened with Bill Bailey (will he ever come home?) and from there on in it was one familiar/done to death number after another.. Pianist Ruth Alder-Bateman sang many numbers - big voice, booming PA, a voice likely to be suited to Dolly Parton country tunes. 

The Tweed River Jazz Band plays for the love of it. They're not in it for the money, indeed, over the years, Peter Roughead and co have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity. Long may they continue.
Russell

Set list: (Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey; I Get the Blues When it Rains*; Hindustan; Georgia on My Mind*; When You're Smiling*; Mean to Me*; Runnin' Wild*; I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby*; Indiana; In the Sweet Bye and Bye1*; I'm Gonna Sit Down and Write Myself a Letter; Doctor Jazz; St Louis Blues*; Ice Cream*; His Eye is on the Sparrow*. 

* Ruth Alder-Bateman vocal number. 
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive