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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

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, October 24, 2021

Musicians Unlimited @ Steelies, Hartlepool - Oct. 24

Steelies, aka South Durham Social Club, is onto a winner. Sunday lunchtime, concert room, full house, bar sales, and it's all down to Teesside's big band Musicians Unlimited taking up residency once a week on Westbourne Road. Mick Donnelly's outfit goes about it's business without fuss, smiles radiating across the sections. Today's session would feature vocalists Jan Spencelayh and Paul Skerritt with Bill Watson contributing several fine trumpet/flugelhorn solos. 

Stars Fell on Alabama opened today's programme, something of an unusual opener, measured rather than explosive. The sections sounding just fine, the rhythm section featuring veteran pianist Ted Pearce working alongside Tees Hot Club guitarist Ian Bosworth, bassist Ron Smith, drummer John Bradford and the evergreen Ernie Jackson on percussion. 

Bill Watson's solos (trumpet and flugelhorn) deservedly won warm applause (Stars Fell on AlabamaThe Touch of Your LipsA Foggy Day in London TownI've Found a New Baby). Sue Ferris, playing tenor sax, contributed excellent solos, Kevin Eland nailed his trumpet parts, and the vocalists - Ms Spencelayh and Mr Skerritt - were on the money all afternoon (Spencelayh singing A Night Like This from the Bond movie Casino Royale, Skerritt effortlessly scaling the heights on Come Fly with Me). 

MU's big band version of Wonderwall worked a treat (Skerritt), What a Difference a Day Makes (Spencelayh), Sweet Georgia Brown, yes, a varied set list making this afternoon's big band concert an unqualified success.  Russell
 
Musicians Unlimited: Mick Donnelly (MD); Bill Watson, Kevin Eland, Dave Harrison, James Corking (trumpets); Josh Bentham, Kim Skerritt (alto saxes); Sue Ferris (tenor sax, flute); Barbara Fagan (tenor sax); Jill Nelson (baritone sax); John Day, Dave Brocklesby, Tommy Cloughton, Peter Morgan (trombones); Ian Bosworth (guitar); Ted Pearce (piano); Ron Smith (bass guitar); John Bradford (drums); Ernie Jackson (percussion); Jan Spencelayh, Paul Skerritt (vocals)

Set list: Stars Fell on AlabamaCome Fly with MeThe Touch of Your LipsA Night Like ThisA Foggy Day in London TownFor Once in My LifeLight VariationsFeverI've Found a New BabyWhat a Difference a Day MakesEmancipation BluesMy Heart Belongs to DaddyMistyWonderwallChildren of Sanchez; The Best is Yet to Come; Sweet Georgia Brown

No comments :

Blog Archive