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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

18037 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 458 of them this year alone and, so far, 36 this month (June 11).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sat 14: Mr Wilson’s Second Liners @ Northumberland Miners’ Picnic, Woodhorn Museum, Ashington. 10:00am-5:00pm. Free. At intervals during the day.
Sat 14: Spanish City Rollers @ The Brae, Cullercoats. 11:00am & 1:00pm. Free. A Cullercoats Festival event.
Sat 14: Front Porch Three + Hoodoo Blues swing dance workshop @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 3:30pm. A Cullercoats Festival event.
Sat 14: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tynedale Beer & Cider Festival, Tynedale Rugby Club, Corbridge. 4:15-5:30pm.
Sat 14: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 14: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 14: Eva Fox & Steve Chambers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 15: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:00pm.
Sun 15: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Hannah Brine Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free. Concert performance (open to the public)..
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00.

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00..
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’..
Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. .
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

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

Friday, November 18, 2022

Errol Linton + Littlefield & Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - Nov. 17

Errol Linton (vocals, harmonica); Ritchie Green (guitar); Petar 'Peter' Živković (piano); Lance Rose (double bass); Gary Williams (drums)

Errol Linton said: It's been a while. Harmonica demon Linton first played a Jumpin' & Hot Club gig many moons ago and here he was on a rainy, rainy November day making a welcome return to Newcastle. This Gosforth Civic Theatre  promotion was the latest in Jumpin' Hot Club's 37th anniversary year of celebratory gigs. And, despite the rain, GCT was packed, both cabaret tables and raked seating. 

Rarely, if ever, seen without a hat, Linton strolled on to the stage and hit the ground running with a string of back catalogue and newer numbers. Long-time bandmates, pianist Petar Živković and bassist (double bassist!) Lance Rose were on the gig alongside the all-dancing but-no-singing guitarist Ritchie Green. During a set of some seventy five minutes, Linton visited the blues, some Brixton blues, some Caribbean skanking blues, a ballad or two, all pieced together by an easy engagement with an adoring audience. A Scottish voice bellowed: You're the greatest harmonica player in the world. Linton took the compliment. 

Hooked on Your Love and Packing My Bags featured in the set with Linton occasionally taking the opportunity to plug his latest album, No Entry. This Newcastle date was one of many in an extensive tour, if you get the chance to go to one of the gigs, take it.

Michael Littlefield (guitar, vocals); Scott Taylor (harmonica, vocals) 

Earlier in the evening, two local heroes opened for Linton. Michael Littlefield (guitar and vocals) and Scott Taylor (harmonica and vocals), known to many as one half (the frontmen) of King Bees, their set comprised several numbers from King Bees' pad plus one or two country blues numbers. Washboard Sam. Big Bill Broonzy, Blind Blake and more, the GCT audience lapped it up. Headliners in their own right, Littlefield and Taylor made it a night to remember.

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