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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 ...

April 2025.

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.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

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, January 12, 2022

Black Swan Jam - Jan. 11

Alan Law (piano); John Pope (bass) Matt MacKellar (drums) + "Janet the Sax" (alto sax); Faye MacCalman (tenor sax); Murray Wankling (piano); Charles & Laurence Harrison (guitars); Fernando Torres, Steve Picking (elec. bass); Michael Mather, Mark Taylor (drums); Sid Stobart (vocal/blues harp); Becky Tuck (vocal).

The thing about jam sessions is that they are always different but never boring. The repertoire may show little variation but the interpretations invariably do.

Last night, the house trio of Law, Pope and MacKellar got things off to a swinging start. MacKellar, on parole from a well-known music college in Boston, Mass, drove There is no Greater Love effectively along with Pope, depping for the quarantined Paul Grainger, giving excellent support and soloing imaginatively to complement Law on piano. 

The pianist was playing a blinder and this was just the opener and paled in comparision to his solo on Night Train - the tune that began life as Ellington's Happy Go Lucky Local before Jimmy Forrest half-inched it, retitled it and had a massive hit back in the 1950s. Things weren't what they used to be between them after that!

Cantaloupe Island and St Thomas followed with Mather moving on to the drum stool. The first of the Harrisons, Laurence, joined the party for Blue Bossa and There Will Never be Another You. Keeping it in the family, Charles, aided and abetted by Torres and Taylor played a couple of funky fusion numbers, one of which was Herbie Hancock's Chameleon (not to be confused with the Boy George number of the same name).

A more orthodox version of Alone Together (or was it Beautiful Love?) then a delightful surprise. "Janet the Sax" made her jam session debut and, despite first night nerves, did herself no harm.

Time for a song. Another first timer Sid Stobart crooned My Funny Valentine then upped his game to belt out Sweet Home Chicago complete with harp solo - the room liked it!

Black Orpheus with Harrison, L was followed by "Faye the Sax" - that's Faye MacCalman who, with Murray on piano, gave What is This Thing Called Love? a lyrical work out and maybe even found the answer. Blue Monk was more paintstripping before another newcomer, Becky Tuck, took us out with The Lady is a Tramp. Another fine night -Lance.

PS: I  forgot to mention Steve Picking who was outstanding on fretless bass - sorry Steve!

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