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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 01: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 01: Revolutionaires @ The Old Barrel (Flatties), Boldon Colliery. 3:30pm. Free. Excellent rhythm & blues.

Thu 02: ???

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 03: John Gregory @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.

Sat 04: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Square, Middlesbrough. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £5.00. Xmas party (rescheduled from early December).

Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. 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

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Jammin' @ the Black Swan - May 17

A fortnight ago, I bemoaned the absence of the horn players (Where have all the blowers gone?). This time it was Where have all the guitars gone? and, apart from Esther who was impressive on clarinet and David Gray who blew the room apart with his cutting edge solos and a croony vocal on Just Friends this was indeed predominantly a singers session - almost a jazz Go As You Please at the Wheeltappers and Shunters!

Don't get me wrong, all of the singers are rated highly across the region and can pull paying gigs. However, the beauty of a jam session lies in the mix of instrumentalist and vocalist which, tonight, was very much biassed towards the latter. So I look forward to seeing the balance redressed at future jams. Lance

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Edgar Bell (cornet); David Gray (trombone/vocals); Esther Coombes (clarinet); Haaruun Miller (alto/tenor sax); Jack Anderson (bass/bass guitar); Murray Wankling (piano); Chris Finney, Tom Parry-Jones, Will Pease, Mark ?, Michael Mather (drums); Jan Spencelayh, Kit Giroux, Niffi Osiyemi, Ian Dreever, Patrick Cromb, Chen ?, Will Reece (vocals).

9 comments :

Haaruun Miller said...

One of the drummers was called Mark Taylor. Not sure about the rest of them though.

Brian shine said...


Your right a about a jazz go as you please at the Wheeltapers and shunters, before long we will have the bingo on

BRIAN SHINE

Ann Alex said...

Sorry Lance but I have to say that you sound very dismissive of all these talented singers. Why don't you tell us what they sang and how they compared with each other? Patrick Cromb alone deserved a mention as a fairly new kid on the block. I've heard him and he's very good. Come to think of it, you haven't mentioned much about the instrumentalists either!
Ann Alex

Russell said...

Ann, perhaps it's jam session fatigue (on Lance's part). Where have all the horn players gone? If you want to hear what's been happening recently, why not come along, drink some beer (lots of it!) and find out for yourself.

Paul Grainger said...

Thanks for that Haaruun, in the melee I don't always manage to get everybody's names or give them full credit. Also thanks for coming along and playing. It was good to meet you and hear you play. I hope you can join us on the 31st for the next session: https://fb.me/e/4th5mh3Eu

Lance said...

Well Ann, seeing as you asked, here are some of the songs:
Jan:Autumn Leaves, Cheek to Cheek.
Kit: Don't Get Around Much Anymore, But Not For me.
Niffi: Sweet Georgia Brown, I Wish I Knew How it Felt to be Free.
Chen: Fly me to the Moon.
Ian: Come Fly with me, The Shadow of your Smile.
Patrick:Someone to Watch Over me, It Had to be You.
Will Reece: Bewitched.

The trio opened up with My Silent Love and Who Can I Turn To?
Other instrumentals included All Blues and Misty featuring Edgar and Haaruun. Impressions with David Gray, Murray and Jack on bass guitar.

The finale was Work Song with Michael Mather on triangle.

Ian said...

Nice meeting you on the Metro, Lance.
I'll have to get along for a look in sometime ;-)

Ann Alex said...

Lance, Thanks for all the extra information. The triangle on Work Song sounds like fun!
Russell, I really wish I could get along to these jam sessions but I have mobility problems just now, hopefully this will be dealt with by physiotherapy soon.

Lance said...

Ian, next one is on May 31. 7:30 start. Check it out.

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