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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

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.

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, April 12, 2022

The Central Bar Quintet play Joe Henderson's Page One + Jam Session @ the Central Bar, Gateshead - April 11

Pete Tanton (trumpet); Jamie Toms (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); John Bradford (drums)

The latest in the monthly Blue Note album recreation sessions at the Central Bar was based around Joe Henderson's Page One. It was the tenor saxist's debut Blue Note album and produced a couple of jazz standards in the form of Blue Bossa and Recorda Me that have become almost a rite of passage at every jam session south of the north pole.

This was, subsequently, the album's strength and its weakness inasmuch as it now gives the listener the comfort of familiarity alongside the feeling of 'Oh no, not that one again!' However, Kenny Dorham who composed both pieces probably didn't think they'd outlive him and tonight's band could only play the hand that they were dealt with.

The dirge-like La Mesha did nothing to lift the spirits but, then again, nor did the original so they were in good company. However, the romping Homestretch put things back on an even keel and at last the band began to unleash its full potential. Toms and Tanton gelled to get the classic 2 horns/3 rhythm sound that typified the hard bop sound of the era with Law, Shoulder and Bradford powering them on like a Man City back three.

'Bruce the Hat' - an elusive figure who hovers around the fringes of the jazz scene - remarked that he considered Alan Law to be a gorgeous player and I doubt if there would be anyone in the room who disagreed. By the time we reached Recorda Me, Blue Bossa having been dispensed earlier, the momentum  continued and, via Jinrishka, the set closed with Out of the Night a driving bluesy theme that kicked the door down.

The final hour's jam session had optimistically made it free entry in the hope that the blowers would be queueing around the block to sit in. This wasn't the case and it was left to a stickman and a plucker to join Shoulder and Law.

Simeon Lewis and Giles Strong were the two in question and, although Lewis was, to me, an unknown he did enough behind the kit to guarantee he will make his mark on the scene. Strong, on the other hand is one of the recognised guitar aces around the north east and it was good to hear him again.

Alone Together and I Love You impressed before the horns returned for Four, Lullaby of Birdland and You'd be so Nice to Come home to.

An enjoyable albeit uneven session that deserves more support. Watch this space for news of the next excavation of the Blue Note vaults - Lance

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