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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

Saturday, September 24, 2022

Milano Happy Jazz Festival @ Spirit de Milan - Sunday Sept. 18

Festival mastermind Mauro Porro couldn't have been other than delighted with how things went on the first three days of the inaugural Milano Happy Jazz Fest. On a blue sky Sunday morning our amiable multi-instrumentalist was on site bright and early to attend to last minute matters before taking to the stage himself leading his Dixie Blue Blowers 6tet

Porro's hot Dixie six, Italy's Chicago Stompers (more Porro!), an International Hot Stars Band (from 'Europa', as stated in the festival's printed programme), the the top class New York Classic Jazz 4 and an all-star festival finale featuring the Blue Devils (a tribute to the late, great Keith Nichols), it promised to be a memorable day.

Mauro Porro plays cornet, several reeds, piano...is there no limit to the man's talents? What's more, in addition to running around multi-tasking, our host made time for everyone. Signor Porro couldn't have been more accommodating. The day's concert programme began indoors with Porro's Dixie Blue Blowers 6tet. Porro (cornet) led a young, tight unit through a selection of popular songs from a century and more ago. From 1928's You're the Cream in My Coffee to There'll be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight (from the 1890s) to She's Crying for Me (as recorded by the Original New Orleans Rhythm Kings in 1925) to Singin' the Blues, Porro's boys put on a great show. 

Blue skies encouraged festival organisers to take the music outdoors, al fresco dining de rigueur. Mauro Porro's Chicago Stompers have played prestigious festivals across Europe - Breda, Keswick, Whitley Bay - and this Milan date was something of a homecoming. The irrepressible Porro led the combo from the on-stage upright piano (various reeds close at hand). Polka Dot RagCollegiate LoveI'll be Your Friend With Pleasure (there would be much Bix here in Milan), an Italian take on Dinah, all played on period instruments, this was hot jazz at its best.

The International Hot Stars Band comprised an Anglo-French line-up featuring Rico Tomasso (trumpet, vocals), Alistair Allan (trombone, vocals), Jean-François Bonnel (reeds), Félix Hunot (banjo, guitar, vocals), Graham Hughes (sousaphone, string bass) and Richard Pite (drums). Rightly described as 'Hot Stars', nominal frontman Rico Tomasso kept the show moving along, hot solos abounded, vocals were shared, principally between Tomasso and Allan (an unlikely I've Got the World on a String), and an unexpected highlight...Frenchman Hunot singing Ain't Misbehavin' Très bon! The International Hot Stars exuded an easy going camaraderie, were we really basking in glorious sunshine in an idyllic Milanese courtyard? Yes, we were! Struttin' With Some BarbecueI Got a Right to Sing the Blues, Tomasso featured on a marvellous Rockin' ChairWest End BluesPotato Head Blues, this was absolutely top class stuff! Time for a spot of lunch...

Mike Davis' New York Classic Jazz 4 just happened to be in Switzerland around the time of Milano Happy Jazz Fest. At Mauro Porro's invitation the NYCJ4 boarded a train to Milan. Cornetist Mike Davis and, on this trip, pianist Andy Schuum (the man from Chicago more usually heard playing Bixian cornet) were in the company of two musicians only previously seen and heard thanks to Glenn Crytzer's weekly lockdown live stream from NYC. Playing reeds, Ricky Alexander and woodwind specialist Jay Rattman. Other than a trip to New York this was a rare opportunity to hear these guys in concert. 

The ever-dapper Davis presented a programme of familiar numbers and some rarely heard pieces. After You've GoneSugar (Ricky Alexander alternating between alto sax and clarinet), Davis and Alexander singing My Gal Sal, Andy Schuum playing piano as if he were Bix Beiderbecke. On this Spirit de Milan set, in addition to his brilliant cornet playing, Davis also played trombone, and most impressively too! The New York Classic Jazz 4 in Milan...who'd have thought it?!

To close the inaugural Milano Happy Jazz Fest, festival director Mauro Porro pulled out all the stops to present a truly all-star ensemble. The Blue Devils' tribute to Keith Nichols had all the makings of an unforgettable occasion. Looking from left to right, the photo shows ten instantly recognisable faces (one or two are partially/totally obscured from view!): Andy Schuum (piano); Jean-François BonnelJay RattmanRicky Alexander (reeds); Félix Hunot (banjo, guitar); Rico Tomasso (trumpet); Richard Pite (drums); Mike Davis (cornet); Graham Hughes (sousaphone, string bass); Alistair Allan (trombone). The avuncular Richard Pite handled MC duties, in so doing his musical contribution should not be understated, throughout, our Londoner was absolutely tremendous. 

Reading from many of the late Keith Nichols' charts, the Blue Devils played a lot of Ellington, all of it sublime. First rate soloists stretched from one end of the stage to the other, the ensemble work doing Mr Nichols proud. From Double Check Stomp to Sugarfoot StompBirmingham Breakdown, this was some gig! I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby sang Alistair Allan, Milano went crazy 'bout Signor Allan.

East St Louis Toodle-oo, a hot Mahogany Hall Stomp, a magisterial Black and Tan FantasyCreole Love Call, Drop Me Off in Harlem (worth flying from Newcastle to Milan for this one alone), a pulsating Wall Street Wail, the Blue Devils departed the stage to huge applause.  

Milano Happy Jazz Fest will live long in the memory, it was an absolute triumph. Thanks to Mauro Porro and all at Spirit de Milan. Magnifico!
Russell

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