Total Pageviews

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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: 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

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
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive