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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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, August 08, 2021

Rendezvous Jazz remembering Tom Hall @ The Red Lion, Earsdon - August 7

Maureen Hall (vocals); Gavin Lee (clarinet, soprano sax); Gordon Solomon (trombone); Malcolm Armstrong (piano); Tom Darbyshire (double bass); George Davidson (drums, vocals) + John Broddle (vocals) 

It had been a while, the best part of eighteen months. Maureen Hall confessed to being a little nervous. To add to any anxiety, two of the band almost didn't make it. The A19 closed to traffic, Tom Darbyshire and Gavin Lee were obliged to take the scenic route, arriving in Earsdon some twenty minutes after the advertised eight o'clock start. 

Maureen dedicated the evening to her husband Tom who sadly died a little over one year ago. It was to be an evening of memories and stories of Tom and his mischievous sense of humour. On an occasion such as this Maureen couldn't have wished for a better supporting cast. To her left sat Gavin Lee (clarinet, soprano sax), to her right, Gordon Solomon (trombone). Well, with these guys on board Maureen was one-nil up before the downbeat! The Rendezvous Jazz rhythm section - pianist Malcolm Armstrong, depping bassist Tom Darbyshire and drummer George Davidson - laid down a secure foundation from the off. 

The boys opened up with Alabama Jubilee. It was as if they'd never been away. Everywhere You Go, Maureen's first vocal of the evening, dispatched any lingering nerves. A puff of the cheeks suggested Maureen was pleased/relieved that the show was well and truly back on the road. The applause from the band's regular supporters must have been like a shot in the arm! 

Apex Blues took it down with Gavin Lee in tremendous form. Perhaps our man from County Durham spent his many lockdown days in the shed: assured, fluent, inventive and more. Doctor Jazz closed an enjoyable first set. You've heard the tune a million times, but no matter, it's a winner every time. 

I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate ventured Maureen, an instrumental take on Bobby Shafto more or less fell apart at its end, but everyone laughed it off with the audience happily singing along. Maureen took a breather as the boys worked out which key they should be in on Canal Street Blues. They got there in the end! Friend of Rendezvous Jazz, Mr John Broddle joined the band to sing a couple of numbers -  Roses of Picardy and Sweet Lorraine. It's always a pleasure to listen to JB's casually swinging vocals. 

Maureen returned to conclude the evening's entertainment with the spiritual Light from Your Lighthouse. It had been an entertaining evening. Maureen wanted the occasion here at the Red Lion to be one filled with happy memories of Tom - at home, at work, on the cricket field - and that's exactly how it turned out.  

Next month's session is on Saturday 4th September, eight o'clock start, £3 on the door. And before then, this Friday (August 13), Maureen and the boys will be resuming their weekly lunchtime session at the Monkseaton Arms (1:00pm) with special guest, pianist Ian Wynne! 
Russell   
  

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