Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ 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

Thursday, February 23, 2023

The Blaydon Races (the pub not the song)

Back in the early 1960s, in the days before the Blaydon Jazz Club was formed (and is still functioning) some of the best modern jazz was centred around a long gone pub - the Blaydon Races. Situated just outside of Blaydon near Stella Power Station it had music most nights including at least one jazz session.

On piano, a fantastic Glaswegian pianist, Jimmy Miller - not to be confused with the pianist of the same name who was an integral part of the Squadronaires - a hard drinking Scotsman who, up to that time, was the best jazz pianist I'd ever heard in a local setting. As I recall, Ray Jobling was on bass and, whilst I can't recall the drummer, Dave Hedley also sat in. In fact the first time I ever heard the song Tangerine was when Dave sang it with great backing from the trio.

The pub, like Miller, Jobling and Hedley are now long gone but I wonder if anyone else has memories of the pub and/or the musicians? Lance

Roly's link.

at

2 comments :

Roly said...

Hi Lance I remember the place and thought it had suffered bad fire damage but it seems it was demolished eventually (see website mentioned below). I remember the name Jimmy Miller being mentioned in my younger days but never saw him play. I did see his bass player Ray Jobling a few times playing in a trio at Ryton Country Club and it was Alan Palliser on piano. Hopefully some of your readers can give more info. Meanwhile though I located this interesting website and it has a surprisingly comprehensive amount of info on the venue, even band listings. And as you will see Jimmy Miller Trio is mentioned a quite few times, in the text and in the listings. http://readysteadygone.co.uk/the-blaydon-races/

Thursday, February 23, 2023 8:46:00 pm
Gordon Solomon said...

Like you Lance I remember the pub but never visited the place. I recall Jimmy Miller though. For a time Ronnie McClean had a weekly session at Ryton Social Club with Jimmy on piano and I depped a couple of times. Jimmy was a superb player and could play anything, regardless of the idiom. He had a residency at Roy’s Two Rooms (I think it became Jim’s Two Rooms) in Gallowgate which used to be frequented by the NUFC players after the match. Jimmy and vocalist Dave Hedley were great pals and Dave, along with ex Newcastle player and singer Johnny Heenan, used to visit and sing a couple of numbers.

Friday, February 24, 2023 10:17:00 am

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive