Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 2026)

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

18445 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 309 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 20 ) 43,

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

From This Moment On

April

Mon 27: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 27: House of Blues @ the Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £7.00., £5.00. advance. A student-led jazz session. ‘House of Blues’ is, perhaps, a misnomer. SOLD OUT!
Mon 27: Littlewood Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00 + bf, £7.00. + bf.

Tue 28: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:00pm. £10.00. + £1.00. bf. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Hackney Colliery Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £25.00.

Thu 30: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: International Jazz Day & JANE AGM.
Thu 30: Duke Junction @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Nadim Teimoori (tenor sax); Jeff Hewer (guitar); Martin Longhawn (organ); Steve Hanley (drums). An International Jazz Day event & the 12th anniversary of Newcastle Jazz Co-op acquiring the Globe!

May

Fri 01: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 01: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 01: Bede Wind Band + East Coast Swing Band @ Cullercoats Methodist Church. 7:30pm. £10.00. Tickets from: www.ticketsource.com, members of Bede Wind Band & at the door. Memorial concert for Anne-Marie Purvis, who was a member of both ensembles. All proceeds to Tiny Lives Trust.
Fri 01: Louis Louis Louis @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.

Sat 02: Midnite Follies Orchestra @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £20.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. All-star line-up.
Sat 02: Knats Masterclass & Jam II @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 1:00-3:00pm. £15.00.
Sat 02: Shannon Pearl + John Pope & John Garner @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00. + £1.50. bf. ‘Witch-pop’ + Pope & Garner.
Sat 02: Knats + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sat 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 03: Chilcott Jazz Mass @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 9:30am. Free. Sung communion with Parish Choir (featuring Bob Chilcott’s music). A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sun 03: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 03: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Mark Toomey (alto sax).
Sun 03: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: Tom Waits for No Man @ Oxygenic, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm (2:30pm doors). Neckties and Boxing Gloves album launch. £14.00 (gig & a CD); £8.00 (gig only).
Sun 03: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 03: John Pope & John Garner @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Jam packed @ The Black Swan - Oct. 18

Best intentions...detailed note taking, name that tune, detective work (What's your name?*), a return trip to the bar (supporting the jazz economy). The Black Swan's fortnightly (Tuesdays) jam session in the basement of Newcastle Arts Centre is such that you dare not miss it, you never know who might turn up. As this evening's session got underway the room was rather quiet. The house trio - Messrs Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger and, direct from the Royal Albert Hall and a VIP trip to Ronnie Scott's, Michael Mather - set the standard before the first of what would turn out to be countless sitters-in took to the floor. 

A rarity, not one but several bass players were in the house (Mr PG couldn't believe his luck!). The first of them, a fresh-faced 'fresher', possibly a sixth former, performed with no little confidence - Red Clay, Little Sunflower and more -. Jamie, the name, he'll be back. From here on in it all got a tad dizzying...newbie Martha singing Georgia, seasoned GAYP jam sessioner Ian Drever belting out A Foggy Day as the heavy artillery arrived. The first of them, Lawrence Harrison (brother Charles waiting his turn) scaling How High the Moon? Wow, this guy can play guitar (pictured with John Pope)! Kris Finney depped Michael 'VIP' Mather, working alongside another newbie bassist, Hal Lockwood on Out of Nowhere (out of nowhere Ray Burns joined the party). 

Another of the big guns took aim on an uptempo Autumn Leaves. When Harry Keeble is in the house you're gonna hear some top drawer tenor playing. Bulls eye! The battalions had us surrounded - Stu on piano, JP on bass, the other Harrison, Charles (like Lawrence, a tremendous guitarist), Abbie Finn spelling Finney and VIP Mather, Edgar (that's Mr Edgar Bell) muscling in on trumpet (Walls of Jericho and all that). Not sure who called it, probably Harry, fasten your seat belts, Wayne Shorter's Yes or No. If there's a tree, a pecking order, let's be honest, there is, Harry Keeble is right up there.

Newbie Libby sang It's Almost Like Being in Love, later to be accompanied by Nigel Greenwood (alto sax) on Summertime. Who's the drummer? Can't quite see. It's Mark (a newbie?), then Will Pease, mustn't forget Bailey Rudd. Bassists and drummers galore, what's going on?! And then there was Haaruun Miller and Showtime (how can anyone forget DG?). And then there was Ms Bradbury. Fionnula Bradbury sang Feeling Good. What a star! Look at the time, ten minutes 'til closing. Big Chief PG assembled the troops. A dozen or so fell in, Attention! Take the A Train. Next stop Homesville. Yes, the Black Swan jam session is the one you can't afford to miss. Next one, Tuesday 1st November. 

Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Michael 'VIP' Mather (drums) + in somewhat chaotic order - Jamie (bass guitar); Martha (vocals); Ian Drever (vocals); Lawrence Harrison (guitar); Kris Finney (drums); Abbie Finn (drums); Edgar Bell (trumpet); Charles Harrison (guitar); Libby (vocals); Nigel Greenwood (alto sax); Mark (drums); Will Pease (drums); Bailey Rudd (drums); Haaruun Miller (tenor sax); David Gray (trombone); Fionnula Bradbury (vocals); possibly others...            
 
* A while ago your correspondent button-holed a first time jam session participant: Excuse me, what's your name? A rather startled young man replied: Why, what have I done? 
Russell
at

2 comments :

Lance said...

Perhaps the sitters-in should sign in.
Name
Instrument
D.O.B.
Next of kin...

Wednesday, October 19, 2022 11:33:00 AM
Russell said...

Good idea!

Wednesday, October 19, 2022 11:37:00 AM

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