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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

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.

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

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Different Pebbles, One Beach – presented by Auntie Joy @ Holy Cross Church, Ryton, Gateshead. Sept. 18

(Collage  © Ken Drew)
This was the introductory offering in what is planned to be “a short series of multi-media events”.

The afternoon began with the pealing of the bells. To maximise the sound internally, openings to the bell tower had been left ajar, including the alarmingly named “suicide door” – a small hatch high up near the roof. Thus, the bells felt very immediate and we could hear the cries of – presumably – the Tower Captain, John Robinson. There is obviously a considerable skill to these campanological changes of pattern.

The bells were soon joined by the keyboards of noted improviser Paul Taylor. Abstract musical shapes gradually displaced the ancient peals from the tower, as Paul moved into a solo excursion of many moods and textures…… deep organ chords (befitting a church) beneath a flow of upper atmospheric sound.

He then disappeared into the inner sanctum of the church organ itself, treating us to a passage of improv that managed to suggest (in this listener’s mind, anyway) a half-remembered, but non-existent hymn, at least until it headed off into more abstract realms.

There followed various combinations of vocalists – Pinnel (aka Lindsay Duncanson) and Mobius (James and Skylar) all of whom processed their voices electronically to create hypnotic, looping layers, whispers and a wonderful, other-worldly choral effect. I had a wander round the church at one point and it was remarkable how good it sounded from all angles.

Again, a bell tolled, with a single, steady note. The combined sounds of the various musicians ebbed and flowed, until this remarkable event drew to a close. Geoff Fimister

See also TQ zine 

4 comments :

Andy Wood said...

It was a privilege to be a co-curator of this event which was very well received by an appreciative audience and competent set of performers.

Alex Reed said...

A fantastic event in a beautiful setting

James Watts said...

Cheers for coming, and for writing this! It was an excellent day - here's to more!

Paul said...

It was a wonderful event a privilege to perform in such an atmospheric setting. I'm very grateful to Andy, Nigel, Charlie, the bell ringers of Holy Cross and all at the church for their enthusiasm and for making it all happen. A perfect antidote to the anxieties of these strange times. As James said, here's to many more Auntie Joys.
PS Look out for a forthcoming album of the concert...

Blog Archive