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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. 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, November 02, 2022

Some tasty jam at the Black Swan - Nov. 1

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Tim Johnston (drums) + Graham Hardy, Edgar Bell (trumpets); David Gray*, Thomas ? (trombones); Andy Schumm, Esther Coombs (clarinets); Haaruun Miller, Nigel Greenwood** (alto sax); Steve Summers, Nick Gould (tenor sax); Adam Sams***, Jacob Egglestone (guitar); John Pope (bass); Jamie Watkins (bass guitar); Murray Wankling (piano); Kris Finney, Bailey Rudd, Will Pease (drums); Jan Spencelayh, Alice Grace, Dawn Furness, Katri(o)na ?, Alice Grace (vocals).

*David Gray sang and whistled. ** Nigel Greenwood also whistled. ***Adam Sams dueted vocally with David Gray on It's Only a Paper Moon.

What can I say? The above listing tells it all, or at least most of it! There was just so much going on that to give a blow by blow description would probably take me until next week and to single  anyone out would be an insult to the others who poured their heart and soul into it. Nevertheless, publish and be damned...

This jam could have started the night before and finished the day after and still have had people shouting for more. I counted at least 25 who wandered on and off the stage. There may have been more - every time I looked there seemed to be a different drummer.

They came from near and far. From Edinburgh, Tynemouth, Jarrow and other exotic places - even Chicago IL. Yes, Andy Schumm had just blown in from the Windy City which was no calamity and, preparatory to his appearance at this weekend's Classic Jazz Party and after declining the offer of a mic, blew hot clarinet - great sound.

There were singers-a-plenty. Alice Grace, Jan Spencelayh, Katrina, a first timer at the jam, impressed as did Dawn Furness. Last time I heard Dawn was back in 2015 when she sang and played piano at the old Jazz Café. At the time she seemed to be more operatically inclined than jazzified. This time round the balance was reversed and she even made that idiotic song Nature Boy into something special. 

Apart from Showtime's duet with Adam Sams, David also sang, by special request, A Hundred Years From Today. He took it faster than the original Teagarden version which didn't do any harm at all.

The final jam had the potential to be the jam to end all jams. Trumpet, clarinet, tenor, alto, trombone, guitar, bass, piano, drums, voice - all were times two or more. Had the night been longer we could have had some good old fashioned jousting. Ten choruses each and no holds barred - the sort of rumble that made Norman Granz a millionaire back in the heyday of JATP. As it was the fireworks still flew but imagine the Scottish champ Nick Gould slugging it out with Steve Summers who recently went the distance with Dave O'Higgins! Or the slidemen doing likewise...the permutations are endless. 

Next one is Nov. 15 - get there early. Lance

PHOTO ALBUM.

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