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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.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

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.

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

Monday, November 21, 2022

The Rookies @ the Jazz Lab, Melbourne - Nov. 1

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Glen Sher (alto sax); Tom Sly (trumpet); Joel Trigg (piano/kazoo); Oscar Neyland (bass); Chris Cameron drums.

 

Having been highly impressed with the Jazz Lab on my first visit, I decided to make a return visit with my son Lester to hear The Rookies who we first encountered by chance during one of my previous trips to Melbourne...


...we were walking down Brunswick Street on our way to the Uptown Jazz Cafe, we came across a small bar called the Rook’s Return which was packed full of people having a great time so we decided to check it out.

There were some musicians setting up in a corner next to a very busy bar and they looked a bit like some of the trad jazz players back home in the UK in the 1970s with denim jeans etc.  When the group started playing the first tune was Milestones and they followed that with a  great version of Blue Mitchell’s  Funji Mama. We decided to stick around and give the Uptown Jazz Cafe a miss thus saving me a difficult walk up a long staircase and also, there was no admission charge at the Rook’s Return which made it a great deal.


The group still has that Australian take on hard bop, a bit like the free-bop thing that drummer John Stevens used to be involved in but highly melodic. We enjoyed the two sets they played and it would be hard to pick out high spots but it was nice to hear their music without the background of revellers and clinking glasses. I am relying on my memory as I took no notes on the night but they played three tunes on the first set starting with a long workout on Solar then Brownsville written by Oz sax man Bernie McGann and ending with a duo version of Stella By Starlight with Joel Trigg and Glen Sher really stretching out. 


After a short interval they went straight into Ornette’s Turnaround, then If I Were a Bell, Stomping at the Savoy and ending with Just Friends which contained some wonderful drumming from Chris Cameron.

 

Talking to alto man Sher after the gig he told me he likes playing the Jazz Lab but if I came the next night to a small bar they were performing at, that that was when the music got to another level. Unfortunately, I had to catch a flight back to the UK on Wednesday afternoon so I had to decline. If you find yourself in Melbourne check out The Rookies. Mike Farmer

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