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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

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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