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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sat 04: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Square, Middlesbrough. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. Xmas party (rescheduled from early December).

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. 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

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Sheffield United v Middlesbrough

Sorry to bring football on to the blog again as I know some of our readers would sooner read about the world tiddly-winks championship rather than tonight's Championship game between Sheffield United and Middlesbrough.

However, both towns/cities do have impeccable jazz credentials. Sheffield's Jazz at the Lescar is one of the top provincial jazz venues in the UK whilst Middlesbrough, back in 1978, hosted the greatest ever jazz festival outside of London.

My interest goes further back. During WWII my dad was stationed at a POW camp at Lodge Moor just on the outskirts of Sheffield where his contribution to the war effort consisted of playing piano in the NAAFI accompanying the Italian tenors and baritones who were interned there. 

He also made friends with the locals and, after the war was over, my ma, pa and tiny me, would for several years return for holidays.

As I grew my dad would take me to matches at Bramall Lane and Hillsborough, the home of Sheffield Wednesday although their games weren't usually played on that day of the week. Back then there weren't floodlights and afternoon games were out as everyone was at work making knives.

My memory may be playing tricks here but I seem to remember that, in those days, because Hillsborough also hosted games by Yorkshire Cricket Club you could only watch soccer from three of the four sides. Correct me if I'm wrong.

My love affair with 'Boro began when, at school, I opted out of the Sunderland/Newcastle scenario by adopting Middlesbrough as 'my team'.

The higher profile clubs such as Newcastle and Sunderland tend to look down their nose at their Teesside neighbours conveniently ignoring the fact that the 'Boro are the only north east team to have reached a EUFA cup final and the last one to bring home any silverware when they won the League Cup in 2004. At the time fans of NUFC and SAFC sneered that it was a tinpot trophy but now that the former club are in the renamed Carabao Cup final the 'tinpot trophy' has suddenly become the football equivalent of the Oscars, Grammys and Golden Globes combined!

So who will I be shouting for? I think I'll be happy with a draw although, as Sheffield are more or less home and dried in the Championship, I'll not be too hurt if  'Boro edge it! Lance

3 comments :

Russell said...

I think a three-sided cricket pitch adjoined Bramall Lane, not Hillsborough. As for EUFA silverware, in 1969 the Magpies won the Inter Cities Fairs Cup (the forerunner to the present day Europa League) beating Újpesti Dóza 6-2 in a two-legged final. Next time you're in town/toon, better watch yer back!

Chris Kilsby said...

Let's hear it for the Boro! Never had you down as a fan Lance, great to hear about it, and don't worry, PG and I will look after you!

And a great result last night - Sheffield Utd 1 Boro 3 - UTB !!

Chris

Patti said...

And let's not forget that Sunderland beat QPR 3 nil the other night at Loftus Road!

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