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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

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: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
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.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, June 15, 2022

Black Swan Jam - June 14

Murray Wankling (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); John Bradford (drums) + Paul Gowland (alto sax); John Rowland (tenor sax); Edgar Bell (cornet); Chris Finney, Michael Mather (drums); Jan Spencelayh, Niffi Osiyemi, Ian Dreever, Kai Moriarty, Patrick Cromb (vocals)

The trio got things underway with Beautiful Love, Have You Met Miss Jones? and In a Sentimental Mood. This was Murray's first official appearance as part of the house trio having been given the position after many impressive sit-ins at previous jams. He did good.

A couple of sax players who have been off the scene for a while showed up. John Rowland blew on A Night in Tunisia as well as on my second favourite Ellington tune (the first having already been played) Sophisticated Lady. Paul Gowland opened his innings with a Jonny Bairstow-like attack on I Hear a Rhapsody followed by an aborted If I Loved You and I Cover the Waterfront. With Chris Finney on drums, Paul's Conn underslung alto sounded as good as ever.

In between, the always impressive Jan sang My Funny Valentine and My Baby Just Cares For me. Sensitive and restrained, she hushed the room.

Less restrained in both voice and attire was Niffi who belted out Do Nothing Till You Hear From me. John returned on tenor and the pair took Get Happy to the cleaners.

A brief interval before the pack was reshuffled with the horns blowing like crazy on Tenor Madness. Ed Bell  had a Harmon mute in his cornet á la Miles which suggested that this is his true forté. He did ok.

The action moved from Caesar's Palace to the Black Swan via Coxlodge Club with Ian Dreever, resident on Wednesdays at the latter venue, taking on Tony and Frank with The Good Life and The Lady is a Tramp.

Kai Moriarty kept Sinatra in the frame with It's Always You and Patrick Cromb did likewise with Strangers in the Night after opening with Ain't Misbehavin'.

Even though I missed the great amen it had been a good night - Lance

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