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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

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

Friday, November 12, 2021

Musicians Unlimited @ Dormans Jazz Club Middlesbrough - Nov.5

The first guest band to play since the lockdown featured the award winning band from Hartlepool led on this occasion by trombonist Peter Morgan.

For the first time the band played in the main concert hall and this proved to be very successful with a large and enthusiastic audience.

The opener, In the Mood, showed how tight the band is and that we were in for a great night of music. S‘Wonderful followed with fine solos from Mark Toomey and Gary Hadfield. Ray Noble’s The Very Thought of You was beautifully sung by Jan Spencelayh before the band launched into Take the A Train. The style changed again with that nice ballad Emily, and Jan singing That Old Black Magic.

Many more numbers followed including Down Basie Street, Light Vibrations, Jan singing My Heart Belongs to Daddy, Cheek to Cheek and Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue with fine solos from Sue Ferris and Bill Watson. 

After playing Lil' Darlin’, Jeannine and Jumpin' at the Woodside, the  rhythm section set the pace for The Jazz Police - a great swinging number by Gordon Goodwin to finish the first session.

A rousing big band version of Sweet Georgia Brown  with a nice trombone solo from Chris Hibbard  was followed by a particular favourite of mine What A Difference A Day Made featuring Jan. 

Days of Wine and Roses and Witchcraft were played and then two further vocals from Jan Lullaby of Birdland and Fever. Bringing the evening almost to a close with Clam Chowder and Sammy Nestico's arrangement of Jersey Bounce which had fine soloing from Kevin Eland the show finished with Sue Ferris on flute in Children Of Sanchez.

This was an excellent and memorable night of big band music at its best played to an enthusiastic audience. Many thanks go to the great musicians in the band (sorry I didn't manage to name all of them) and to Peter (standing in for Mick Donnelly) for his leadership and amusing comments.

Thanks also go to Phil Reay for looking after the sound and most importantly to Dormans Club for their support with the Jazz Club. Ron H

Kevin Eland, Bill Watson, Colin Moore, Alan Catherall (trumpets); Ernie O'Hern, Chris Hibbard, Tommy Cloughton, Peter Morgan (trombones); Mark Toomey, Dan Johnson, Sue Ferris, Barbara Fagan, Gillian Nelson (saxes); Garry Hadfield (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); John Bradford (drums); Ian Bosworth (guitar); Jan Spencelayh (vocals)

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