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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.

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

Wednesday, March 09, 2022

Jammin' @ the Black Swan - March 8

(Pics © Russell)
Stu Collingwood (keys); Paul Grainger (bass); Michael Mather (drums) + Stuart Turner, Ben Davies, Jacob Egglestone, Laurence Harrison (guitar); Abbie Finn, Bailey Rudd, Chris ?, Wilf Pease (drums); Will Reece, Patrick Cromb, Fionnuala Bradbury, Kit Giroux, Conor Polley (vocals); Esther Coombes (alto sax/clarinet); Ruby ? (flute); David Gray (trombone); Murray Wankling (piano); Adam Sams (bass clarinet); Edgar Bell (cornet) - there may have been others ...

They came and went with such rapidity that I soon gave up trying to keep score. Next time I'm going to wear shades, a false beard, drink lager and blend anonymously  into the background so I can just enjoy the  music!

Being International Women's Day it would ill become me not to mention the goils. Esther Coombes blew some nice clarinet and tasty alto on Mr PC (or should that have been re-titled Mr PG?) which was much appreciated by those of us sitting up front. A mic would have helped for those stationed further afield. Fionnuala Bradbury faced similar problems singing Someone to Watch Over me until David Gray came to the rescue and twiddled a few knobs allowing us to appreciate an excellent voice - remember the name.

Ruby played flute. I didn't catch her surname so, given the day of the week, I'll call her Ruby Tuesday. I didn't recognise the tune either but she got a good sound. Abbie Finn needed no introduction - we all know and love her - and she delivered.

It was a night that was awash with drummers, guitarists and singers. Some familiar, some new  to the scene and all, we trust, will be back.

The aforementioned David Gray blew some blistering trombone, guitarist Adam Sams opted, this week, for bass clarinet and Edgar Bell played cornet. There was so much more but space and time precludes further detail.

However, one person deserved of mention who was enjoying the music in a flamboyant fashion turned out to be no less a person than the son of Senegalese icon Youssou N'Dour. The vacationing Chicago resident showed his enthusiasm in no uncertain manner!

Next jam is on March 22. Lance

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