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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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. 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, August 31, 2022

B Sharps Quartet Plus One @ the Railway, Stockport - August 30.

(© Jim Pritchard)
Jim Collins (baritone sax); Lana, Leo (alto sax); Robert (soprano sax); Pip (tenor sax).

This group was announced by Jim Collins as the B Sharps Sax Quartet Plus One. The other members were, I believe, all ex students of Stockport's music schools. 


Jim frequently plays at the Railway with the Freddy Garner Quartet and  occasionally guests in guitarist Steve Oakes’  unit. He can also be seen in the sax section of the many big bands that work throughout the north west.

I had never previously heard him play baritone sax but I was impressed with the really big sound he got out of the Yamaha horn.


This gig was a bit of a departure from the modern jazz policy that prevails at this venue and it may be said that all the music we heard may not have had a lot of jazz content but, the enthusiastic approach of the younger participants did go down well with the larger than usual Tuesday night audience. 


The number of tunes played came to an incredible 21 and they were, as you will see, a diverse selection comprising tunes composed by or made popular by Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Benny Golson, George Michael, George Gershwin and many more including two by Hoagy Carmichael. 


The opening number, Sir Duke, set the standard for what followed and although there was little improvisation involved I was impressed by the overall sound and the spot on tuning that this group paid close attention to.  If I remember rightly, I think Sonny Rollins featured Sir Duke during a great gig I went to at Wembley Conference Centre.   


To sum up, well done everyone on a very entertaining evening. 


Next jazz night at the Railway is Sunday Sept 4 with the Al Wood Quintet. Mike Farmer.

 

Sir Duke; Funk Dunk; Stardust; Whisper Not; Summertime; Bohemian Rhapsody; Take the A Train; Brazil; Careless Whisper ;Thriller; Chattanooga Choo Choo; Looney Tunes; In the Mood; Up a Lazy River; Slightly Arabic; You’ve Got a Friend; When Sunny Gets Blue; Hot Toddy; Pink Panther; Tico Tico; Isle Of Capri.

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