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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Sunday, April 24, 2022

The Doris Day Story @ The Customs House, South Shields - April 23

This Theatre Productions Europe show finally arrived on South Tyneside following pandemic-enforced postponement. Que Sera Sera, as the song goes. Curtain up on an early evening start - six o'clock - caught out few, if any, in the near-capacity auditorium. The Doris Day Story is touring provincial theatres with the publicity tag: With video production, a swinging jazz band and impeccable vocals...*

Curtain up, Doris May Anne Kappelhoff on stage. Over the course of two hours we would witness the transformation of the young Ms Kappelhoff into the Hollywood icon Doris Day, en route documenting Doris' four marriages, the birth and death of her son, Terry Melcher, the violence meted out by more than one husband and financial ruin. Laura D'Arcy, as Doris, graced the stage for almost the entire time, no mean achievement considering the production's extensive dialogue and, of course, the many songs. Yes, every number had many members of the audience singing along. 

The vocal numbers offered light relief to the sometimes difficult subject matter of Doris Day's less than idyllic personal life. The callous treatment of Day the Hollywood star at the hands of more than one husband drove the narrative. We saw Day, full of self-doubt, we saw Day the indomitable woman in a so-called 'man's world'. Ultimately, it seems Doris Day found peace, in her later years devoting her time to caring for animals. 

Doris Day didn't quite make it to one hundred, dying at the age of ninety seven. Doris Day the Hollywood singing legend lives on. For those with a Secret Love of Doris Day, The Doris Day Story is worth catching. 

* The video element was absent from the show, as were the advertised tap dancing routines. Russell                  

The cast: Laura D'Arcy as Doris Day; Michael Cuckson as Barney Rapp/Doris' doctor/Barry Comden (Doris' 4th husband); Madeleine Hegarty as Alma Kappelhoff (Doris' mother)/Doris' therapist; Peter Stone as Marty Melcher (Doris'  3rd husband/manager); Matt Colyer as Al Jorden (Doris' 1st husband)/Terry Melcher (Doris' son) + Lavie Rabinowitz (MD & pianist); Michael Cuckson (double bass); Peter Stone (double bass); ? (drums) 
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