Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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

Friday, April 15, 2022

Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - April 15

Olive Rudd (vocals); Jim McBriarty (alto sax, clarinet, vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor, soprano sax); Neville Hartley (trombone, vocals); Carl Peacock (keys); Alan Rudd (bass); Tommy Graham (drums).

How can I sit back and write impartially about this afternoon's seafront session at the CCC?

Firstly, I drew 3 prize winning numbers in the raffle although I did put the Easter Eggs back up for grabs and, secondly, Olive sang two of my favourite songs - How'd You Like to Love me? and I Wished on the Moon which was, in truth, better than winning the vintage (ish) plonk.

Classic Swing have a vast repertoire that is rarely repeated and, in Olive, they have a singer who can hold her own with anyone working her side of the street.

Not that Olive is the only one in the band who can hold a tune. Jim McBriarty, in between blowing clarinet or alto sax, invariably pops up to do a little crooning. This afternoon, amongst others, he delighted us with an obscure Glenn Miller number made famous by Helen O'Connell with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra - I'm Stepping Out With a Memory Tonight

And the vocals didn't stop there. When not blowing slide trombone à la Jack T, Neville Hartley sang like the old trombone master on yet another piece de obscurity - Barefoot Boy - possibly inspired by hearing it on an old Ken Colyer record. Neville and Olive also duetted on Trombone Cholly.

Alan Marshall didn't sing (maybe he's their secret weapon yet to be unleashed) but he blew some modern sounding tenor and soprano whilst Tommy Graham punctuated the percussion when the percussion needed punctuating and Alan Rudd avoided being despatched to the doghouse by ensuring that rhythm and harmony were on the money behind Mrs Rudd's vocals.

Carl Peacock, depping for Jeremy McMurray, slotted in nicely to make this a most enjoyable day at the seaside. Lance

Classic Swing; Back in Your Own Backyard (Olive); You Can Depend on me (Olive); Strike up the Band (Jim); Barefoot Boy (Neville); Blue Lou; How'd You Like to Love me? (Olive); This Can't be Love; You Were Meant For me (Olive); Trombone Cholly (Olive/Neville); I'm Stepping Out With a Memory Tonight (Jim); Tangerine; I Wished on the Moon (Olive); When You're Smiling (Olive).

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