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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sat 04: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Square, Middlesbrough. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. Xmas party (rescheduled from early December).

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. 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

Thursday, December 09, 2021

Tales From the Darkside

For a period during its existence the Phoenix Jazzmen were playing about 3 to 4 times weekly. The band members at the time were Ronnie Young, Graham Shephard, Gordon Solomon, John Hedley, Gordon Sumner and Don Eddy (pictured). 

On one memorable occasion we were booked to play at a large club in central Middlesbrough. The club's resident band comprised organ and drums, and the organist was a very attractive lady. Our drummer Don Eddy, recently divorced, took a fancy to her, and offered her a lift home at the end of the night, conveniently forgetting that he was a passenger in my car. Anyhow I reluctantly agreed and we set off to her place, which turned out to be a flat above a fruit and veg shop in the town.

It was a cold night, and she suggested that I should wait in the shop while Don and her went upstairs to "have a cup of tea", as she put it. So I accepted, and during the wait I realised that I was hungry, so I helped myself to a banana. 

At this point a burly figure loomed up at the door, and a torch was switched on, to reveal me standing in the dark with the banana. It was, of course, the local constabulary doing his rounds, and he demanded an explanation. So I told him the truth, and just as I finished the explanation the loud and rhythmic squeak of bedsprings came unmistakably through the ceiling. "Ah!" said Plod, "that'll be him drinking his tea now. I'll return in ten minutes, and if you and your tea drinking friend aren't gone you'll be in real trouble".

Needless to say we were long gone when he returned. Gordon Solomon.

5 comments :

Lance said...

It's tough on the road. I remember back in 1974 my band were playing at a dance in the ballroom of the Dragonara Hotel in Middlesbrough and in the lounge bar there was an attractive lady playing solo piano. I wonder if this was the same person and, if it was, had I known then what I know now ...

Russell said...

Why don't you come up and see me sometime, and show me your banana?!

Patti said...

Is that a banana in your hand, or are you just pleased to see me? Etc. etc. etc. .......

Sylvia said...

Really!…is this what we expect from a respectable blog…?…no Parliamentary Awards for you again!

Lance said...

Sylvia, you should see the comments we don't post!

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