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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

1803759 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 480 of them this year alone and, so far, 58 this month (June 18).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

Thu 26: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Brass Instruments & the use of mutes.

Fri 27: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Time After Time’.

Sat 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Linskill Centre, North Shields. 4:00-10:30pm. Free, but ticketed (over 18s only). A multi-bill, multi-genre ‘Canny Shiels - North Shields 800’ event. Three Kings Brewery on site.
Sat 28: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 29: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 29: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 3:00pm. Ray McVay & co.
Sun 29: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: Zoë Gilby w. Ryton Choral Society @ Corbridge Middle School NE45 5HX. 5:30pm. £15.00. Gilby w jazz trio & choir. ‘An evening of jazz song for choir’.
Sun 29: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 29: John Wilson & the Sinfonia of London @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Greatest Hits’.
Sun 29: Out Front @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

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

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Joe Webb Quartet @ The Spice of Life, London - March 14

Joe Webb (piano); Will Arnold-Forster (guitar); Tom Farmer (double bass); Richard Pite (drums) 

Monday lunchtime at the Spice of Life, it's the new Friday night out! All seats taken for the appearance of the mercurial Joe Webb, this was an eagerly anticipated gig. Introducing the concert, promoter (and drummer on the gig) Richard Pite, described himself as 'the old git' on the bandstand, saying he was looking forward to joining 'three young Turks' on the session which he hoped would 'swing like the clappers'. A pint of McMullen Brewery's Country Best Bitter, a seat to one side of the stage to ensure a good view of Webb playing the house upright, the quartet opened with Jive at Five. It swung alright, then some! 

Joe Webb is in the vanguard of young British jazz musicians (in their twenties/thirties) who know their jazz history and, what's more, have technique in abundance to play the music with panache and verve. Joining Webb today, guitarist Will Arnold-Foster, bassist Tom Farmer (of Empirical fame) and the aforementioned Spice of Life promoter (and regular Mike Durham International Classic Jazz Party participant), drummer Richard Pite.  

Pianist Webb summoned the spirit of Tatum, Peterson and other legendary figures, his infectious enthusiasm a joy to behold. Sheet music nowhere to be seen, Webb's quartet truly swung like the clappers, and when the occasion called for it, classic numbers (I Cover the Waterfront and In a Sentimental Mood) were afforded due respect. 

A blistering Cottontail, then to close the first set, a dizzying I Want to Be Happy. Forty five minutes had flown by, a sure sign of a great set. Another McMullen's, a natter, and it was time to settle down for the second set. 

My Heart Stood Still (Tom Farmer, impressive solo), I'm Confessin' That I Love You (Webb, wow!), an unlikely Little Suede Shoes, a likely Stompin' at the Savoy, piano, guitar and bass solos, plus MC Pite nonchalantly dispatching fours on All God's Chillun Got Rhythm, this Spice of Life gig sure did swing like the proverbials. Fats Waller's Jitterbug Waltz sent us on our way. A great afternoon.
Russell
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