Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. CANCELLED! 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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

Saturday, July 09, 2022

The Simon Spillett Big Band @ Wigan Jazz Festival - July 8

The Village on the Green in Aspull welcomed a capacity audience to the opening concert at this year's Wigan Jazz Festival. To describe the Simon Spillett Big Band as 'all-star' doesn't do justice to the calibre of musician on stage. Spillett, an A-list attraction in his own right, has assembled an amazing band, chock full of fellow A-listers, all sections comprising band leaders and featured soloists. 

Opening with Dear Johnny B, the concert, from beginning to end, would feature the music of Tubby Hayes (Hayes the composer, Hayes the arranger, Hayes the soloist). The first of many blistering solos during the evening fell to Sam Mayne (alto sax) and Steve Fishwick (trumpet). Many in the audience had come from far and wide to hear Spillett's band and this first number confirmed/reaffirmed their faith in Tubby Hayes and Simon Spillett.

Much of the set list was drawn from Tubbs' Tours and 100% Proof. Spillett's scholarly work on Hayes shone through, both in his playing (blistering tenor solos on Hayes' arrangement of Milestones and Seven Steps to Heaven, but two instances) and in his erudite commentary on Hayes, the man and his music. As MD, Spillett lead the band with boundless energy and vigour, the love for his subject - Tubby Hayes - shining through. 

And what of the band? In a word: Wow! The trumpets, the aforementioned Steve Fishwick, alongside Mark Armstrong, last minute dep Simon Finch, and top C maestro Bruce Adams. The 'bones...all top guys - Mark Nightingale, Andy Flaxman, Ian Bateman (featured on Blues for Bloody Morag) and Pete North. The not-too-shabby reeds...go along the line - Alan Barnes on baritone, the altos of Pete Long and Sam Mayne, and the tenor saxophonists Robert Fowler and Karen Sharp. The latter two trading on Sonnymoon for Two making for a show-stopping finale. 

Rhythm sections don't come better than this - Robin Aspland at the Steinway depping for Rob Barron, the imperious Alec Dankworth, bass, and big band drummer par excellence, Pete Cater. The Simon Spillett Big Band at Wigan will live long in the memory. More immediately, catch the band tomorrow (Sunday) at the Swanage Jazz Festival. 

Simon Spillett Big Band: Simon Spillett (MD, tenor sax); Mark Armstrong, Simon Finch, Steve Fishwick, Bruce Adams (trumpets); Mark Nightingale, Andy Flaxman, Ian Bateman, Pete North (trombones); Sam Mayne, Pete Long, Robert Fowler, Karen Sharp, Alan Barnes (reeds); Robin Aspland (piano); Alec Dankworth (double bass); Pete Cater (drums)

Set list: Dear Johnny BAs Close as You ArePedro's WalkBluesology; SourayaMilestonesShe Insulted Me in MarrakeshSong for a Sad LadyTake Your Partners for the BluesRussian RouletteThe ScandinavianBlues for Bloody MoragPeaceSeven Steps to HeavenSolweig ; Sonnymoon for Two.

1 comment :

"Jazz Lives" @ WordPress.com said...

Hooray for the noble Simon and his bandmates! Well-deserved on all fronts. And backs.

Blog Archive