Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 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

18083 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1047 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 14), 61.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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

Saturday, December 25, 2021

Album review: Alex Webb w. Jo Harrop, Carroll Thompson, Luca Manning & Tony Momrelle - British Standard Time

Jo Harrop, Carroll Thompson, Luca Manning, Tony Momrelle (vocals); Alex Webb (piano, organ, arr. MD); Tony Kofi (soprano, alto, baritone sax); Leo Richardson (tenor sax, flute); Andy Davies (trumpet, flugel); Nat Cross (trombone); Ciyo Brown/Jamie McCredie (guitar); Flo Moore (bass); Sophie Alloway (drums).

The title is magical - it says it all. British Standard Time. Time to listen to some British standards sung impeccably by four of the best interpreters of classic songs irrespective of which side of the Atlantic they were conceived.

In this case the material covers several decades ranging from Harry Woods' Try a Little Tenderness (1932), Noel Coward's Mad About the Boy from the same year and Ray Noble's The Very Thought of You (1934) to numbers associated with Paul Weller, Amy Winehouse and others. Thompson mainly handles the older standards, Harrop the more contemporary ones with Manning and Momrelle also leaning in the latter direction although Momrelle's take on The Very Thought of You is comparable with many of the classic versions from way back.

All four singers make their mark each stamping their individual take and helped along the way by Webb's classy arrangements and some punchy solos from the horns - all are on fire. Webb, incidentally, also composed two of the tunes himself - Breakfast For Two and Moments. Both sung beautifully and effectively, the former by Thompson and the latter by Harrop.

Absolutely perfect for your Xmas party, your NYE bash, your well er your anything!

Available on Spotify and elsewhere.

Luv it! Lance

HarropI Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For; Man in the Station/Don't Want to Know; Moments; As Long as he Needs me; Love is a Losing Game; Almost Blue.
ThompsonLullaby of Birdland; Try a Little Tenderness; Breakfast For Two; Mad About the Boy.
Manning: Let's Slip Away; Human: You Do Something to me.
MomrelleGive me the Night; The Very Thought of You.

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