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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED PERMANENTLY!
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: King Bees @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Superb blues band.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

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.

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

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Jam Session @ The Black Swan - Nov. 9

(Pic by Pam)
 In the absence of our esteemed editor, we two took it upon ourselves to produce a written and photographic account of the Jam Session at the Black Swan. We got off to a bad start by arriving at 8pm for a 7.30pm kick off, thus missing the trio set by the night's House Band: Alan Law (keys); Paul Grainger (double bass); and John Bradford (drums). Having got well and truly into the swing of Alan and John's playing just the night before with the Stuart Fowler Quintet at Gateshead's Central Bar, we hit the ground running as Paul invited vocalist Jan Spencelayh up on stage to deliver Angel Eyes and Bye Bye Blackbird.

Alan Law was the first to take a break, making way for Alex Ord's rendering of The More I See You. With Alan back on keys and Jacob on guitar, the second of the evening's  several vocalists made his appearance - Andy Lawrenson doubling on violin and assuring us that You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To.

(Pics by Pam)
Andy then retreated back into the audience, to be replaced by the night's first horn-player, Esther on alto sax and the third of the evening's vocalists, Niffi Osiyemi Niffy told us in no uncertain terms that It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing and finished her spot with an equally emphatic Alright, OK, You Win.

While two of the House Band were sent off by Paul Grainger for a lie down following Niffi's spot, Lawrence Harrison got set up in place of Jacob on guitar, Michael Mather took over the drum stool and Isaac Wilson got settled behind Alan's Nord. With Esther still on alto they played first, Maiden Voyage, following up with Mr.P.C.

Personnel changes were coming fast and furious now. For the next couple of tunes Alan Law was back at the keyboard with a new guitarist, Joe Steels, and a drummer, Chris. Also our second horn of the night and fourth vocalist, Jim McBriarty on clarinet and Lady Be Good

Over the next three numbers a new guitarist joined the fray, Jimi Savage, and on the first Andy Lawrenson sat-in mid-tune. On the second, a young male vocalist (the evening's fifth) sang what we believe to have been a Portuguese number, while on the third he gave us Bill Withers and Grover Washington's Just The Two Of Us.

Still ringing the changes right up to nearly home time, on the next tune, Paul on bass brought in Charles Harrison on guitar and Tom on drums alongside Jim McBriarty on clarinet and Alan Law on keys to accompany Jan Spencelayh's (?) take on Cheek To Cheek.

The last tune-but-one featured Niffy's version of  The Darktown Strutter's Ball and we were sent out into night - town Newcastle - by Caravan performed by Jim McBriarty (clarinet), Esther (clarinet), Andy Lawrenson (violin), Charles Harrison (guitar), Tom (drums), Paul Grainger (double bass), Alan Law (keys).

A very enjoyable night. No shortage of accomplished guitarists, drummers and vocalists that's for sure. Where were all the horn players tonight we wondered? Ditto you bass players to give Paul Grainger a break.
Pam & Dave

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