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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

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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.

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

Sunday, February 12, 2023

New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Kings Hall, Newcastle - Feb. 11

(© Russell)
Steve Andrews (MC, alto sax, clarinet, vocal); Jim McBriarty (alto/sop sax, clarinet, vocals); Alan Marshall, Gavin Lee (reeds); Alistair Lord, Dave Hignett (trumpet); Neville Hartley (trombone); Ed Cross (violin); Ian Wynne (piano); Phil Rutherford (tuba); Keith Stephen (guitar, banjo); Abbie Finn (drums);  Caroline (vocals) + Mark Wallace (intermission piano).

King's Hall in the heart of Newcastle University, was a new venue for the NCRO. A quite magnificent setting, the walls bedecked with portraits of key figures from the uni's past and an in tune Steinway grand piano. The portents looked good.

However, there was a downside. Because of the high ceiling which wouldn't have been out of place in the Sistine Chapel, the acoustics left something to be desired which meant the balance wasn't as good as it normally is with this band and, more importantly, the punchlines to Steve Andrews' humourous introductions sometimes disappeared into the ether. Also, with the absence of a concert hall stage, it meant that unless you had a front row seat or were a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, you viewed the band through a forest of heads and shoulders.

(© Russell)
Apart from that, the music was great and the band were on form. A special mention for Abbie Finn who, with only a minimum of rehearsal, read the drum parts to perfection and Ian Wynne excelled on his piano features - A Handful of Keys and  Ragtime Nightingale. That other nightingale, Caroline, captured the feel of 'The Jazz Age' as did 'boy' vocalist McBriarty who wore a straw boater and also blew an assortment of reed instruments. Marshall and Lee swung and front man Andrews, when not giving chapter and verse to each number - all 25 of them! - made occasional contributions on alto and clarinet as well as adding his vocal chords to Because My Baby Don’t Mean Maybe Now. 

(© Russell)
Lord played lead, Hignett took the solos and Hartley had some effective trombone moments. Cross fiddled and Rutherford tamed the tuba as well as dimming the lights and handing out raffle prizes. 

During the interval whilst most were at the bar ordering bathtub booze, Mark Wallace played mighty fine piano. Hope to hear him again sometime.

A most enjoyable evening. Lance 

Zulu Wail; Sunburst Rag: Guilty; Oh Gee Georgie; A Blues Serenade; A Handful of Keys; Sweeping The Clouds Away; The Yale Blues; A Precious Little Thing Called Love;  Just An Hour Of Love; Swamp Fire; Variety Stomp; Palestina; Ain’t That A Grand And Glorious Feeling; Get Out And Get Under The Moon; You’d Be Surprised; Ragtime Nightingale; If Could Be With You One Hour Tonight; J’attendrai; Because My Baby Don’t Mean Maybe Now; Marbles; I’ll See You In My Dreams; Goodbye Blues.

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