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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

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

Wednesday, September 07, 2022

The Good Times Rolled at the Black Swan Jam last night - Sept. 6

James Harrison (keys/drums/daft carry on); Paul Grainger (bass); Tom Chapman (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Esther Coombes (alto sax/clarinet); Haaruun Miller (alto/sop sax); Nigel Greenwood (alto sax); David Gray (trombone/vocals); Edgar Bell (cornet); Ben Phillips (keys); Alex Shipsey (bass guitar); ? (guitar); Felix Parkin-Christie, Kris Finney, Abbie Finn (drums); Ian Drever, Niffi Osiyemi, Paul Skerritt, Sheila Herrick (vocals) - there may have been more...

Nobody sleeps when James Harrison's on board! He plays every number as if it's the grand finale. He sits, he stands, he jumps up and down and, if he had a hat he'd be pulling rabbits out by the dozen! OTT? Most definitely. However, in between all these outrageous antics (which included a drum duet) he plays some mighty fine piano and it has to be said his playing inspired some of tonight's jammers to reach their highest level ever.

As can be seen from the cast of thousands listed above a blow by blow account of each and every one would make War and Peace seem like an editorial in the Shields Gazette so, rather than offend by omission, I won't... except to say that the final blast with Niffi and Paul (Skerritt) duking it out on Let the Good Times Roll with the horns riffing was memorable to say the least. Also, Sheila's additional lyrics to Every Day I Have the Blues gave the number a new dimension and Ben Phillips' Night and Day offered a sobering contrast to James' pianistics. David Gray was in actual fact nicknamed 'Showtime' by James which, upon reflection, was a case of the kettle calling the frying pan. David is fast becoming as renowned a vocalist as he is a slideman as he proved on Misty.

Ed Bell raised his game on the final jam, Esther is rapidly becoming a contender on both alto and gobbo, Felix listens and learns, Nigel played Come Sunday (on Tuesday), Harry gets Tubbier (as in Hayes) every session, Haaruun blew fine alto and did ok on soprano. Nice to see Alex on bass guitar - it's been awhile - Ian Drever threatened to shatter the crystal ball but, after the knobs were twiddled, the balance was better for One For my Baby. As well as Felix, Tom, Kris and Abbie ensured that the ship stayed afloat. 

Good to see some new faces as well as some - I won't say older - others such as James' parents. It was a grand night and, as always, a big thank you to Paul Grainger for keeping the jam going - Lance.

PHOTOS (by Lance unless otherwise stated).

2 comments :

Elaine Harrison said...

Really enjoy your write ups, Lance.
It was great to see you and to be there enjoying the atmosphere 🥰

Patti Durham (on F/b) said...

What a blast this was! A storming session - I'm still amazed that the piano stool survived James's acrobatics!

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