Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 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

Friday, July 02, 2021

The Vieux Carré 4 @ The Holystone - July 1


(Photo by Russell)
Mick Hill (trumpet, vocals); Lawrence McBriarty (trombone, vocals); Brian Chester (keyboards); Fred Thompson (drums, vocals) + John Broddle (vocals) 

Let's call them the Vieux Carré 4, what with Messrs Bennett and Grainger indisposed and Mr J McBriarty away on holiday. Depping today were Brian Chester, piano, and trumpeter Mick Hill. Throughout the afternoon mad dogs and the Vieux Carré took shelter from a midday sun. 

Vocal duties were shared by mainstay vocalist/drummer Fred Thompson, Mick Hill and the band's other McBriarty, trombonist Lawrence. Doctor Jazz (Thompson vocal), Baby Won't You Please Come Home? (Hill vocal) Dallas Blues (and McBriarty) and more got things off to a steady start. 

MC Thompson, playing most of the set with brushes, asked for 'a big hand' for the day's guest vocalist. To jovial cries of Who?! (the culprits were lurking within the band, not the audience!), John Broddle got to his feet. Mr Broddle likes to sing choice material and today was no exception. I'll See You in My Dreams and Out of Nowhere illustrated the amiable Broddle's impressive phrasing of a lyric. 

Second set, Alexander's Ragtime BandBig Butter and Egg ManSweet Lorraine and others, yes, a typical selection here at the Holystone on sunny North Tyneside. Next week, if the sun shines, it's likely the Vieux Carré will once again set up in the beer garden. One o'clock start, bring a Panama. Russell

1 comment :

Brian Bennett said...

Really cheesed-off not to have been on this gig especially with local legends, MICK HILL and BRIAN CHESTER being back in action on trumpet and piano after a long lay-off…and if I say so myself, a typically fab selection of tunes by the Vieux Carré 4. Back next Thursday with the usual suspects - if it’s sunny and warm we’ll be in the beer garden - remember to book your table in advance 0191 266 6173

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