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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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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 26, 2022

Jammin' @ the Black Swan - Jan. 25

Murray Wankling (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); King David Ike-Elechi (drums) + Jeremy McMurray (piano); Jacob Egglestone, Adam Sams, Joe Steels (guitar); Steve Picking, John Pope (bass); Stan Woodward (bass guitar); Michael Mather, Bailey Rudd (drums); Nick Gould (tenor sax); Esther Coombes (alto sax/clarinet); Jan Spencelayh, Kit Giroux, Patrick Cromb (vocals). 

For all we know there may have been others! The on stage permutations were so many and so varied I stopped keeping score. Suffice to see they all did their own thing and no one fell flat on their er, face.

They came down from Edinburgh, up from Yorkshire, across from Cullercoats - truly an international gathering.

Numbers played included Blue Bossa and I Wish I Knew How it Felt to be Free by the trio. 'S Wonderful (Jeremy); Black Coffee, Get Happy, At Last (Jan); Stella by Starlight, Tenor Madness, Body and Soul (Nick); That Old Feeling, Autumn Leaves (Patrick); It Don't Mean a Thing, Misty (Kit); Mr PC (Pope, Sams) and more - much more.

Special mention of Esther (pictured above) who, after a hesitant start, grew in confidence and even took on the power players on All Blues - on clarinet!

The three guitarists all impressed as did John Pope (natch!) and Steve, this week playing upright bass as opposed to his usual fretless electric bass. I could go on and on but instead I'll leave it to Nick Gould who followed in the hoofprints of  Robert the Bruce on Facebook - the Bannockburn of today - to add his thoughts - Lance
at

5 comments :

Nick Gould said...

Good fun! Great to see everyone!

Wednesday, January 26, 2022 12:15:00 pm
Ann Alex said...

Nick, what a great video from the night on Facebook. Catches the atmosphere well!

Wednesday, January 26, 2022 1:43:00 pm
Nick Gould said...

Thanks very much Ann! Come along to the Globe on 13th Feb (Sunday) if you are not busy. I am delighted to be playing there with JazzMain

Wednesday, January 26, 2022 4:00:00 pm
Anonymous said...


a very good jam session, great to see so many musicians who came from afar, it has to be said that Nick Gould was superb, I love the way he brings the younger musicians into play, I look forward to feb 13 at the globe where Nicks group JAZZ MAIN will be playing, a great birthday present for me.

BRIAN SHINE

Wednesday, January 26, 2022 5:40:00 pm
Nick Gould said...

Thank you for your kind words Brian. I am really looking forward to being at the Globe on the 13th with JazzMain. We love coming to Newcastle.

Tuesday was good, so great to see young people who have not been subverted by video games

Thursday, January 27, 2022 4:41:00 pm

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