Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 2026)

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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

From This Moment On

August

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Friday, March 10, 2023

Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - March 10

Alan Marshall (tenor sax, clarinet); Jim McBriarty (alto sax, clarinet, vocals); Neville Hartley (trombone, vocals); Jeremy McMurray (piano); Alan Rudd (double bass); Ian Stocks (drums) + Jim Charlton (clarinet)

Hailstones, snow, a bracing North Sea breeze, what's not to like about Cullercoats? The hardy braved the elements, the Crescent Club, a social club boasting five hand pulls, three of them on tap, what's not to like? Fridays it's Classic Swing. One or two deps of late and, this afternoon, the lurgy-stricken Olive Rudd was absent, curled up in front of a log fire with a good book (or something like that).

The absent Tommy Moran will be delighted to know the band continues to open the show with Classic Swing. The number, very Humph-like, set the tone. The absent Tommy Graham will be pleased to hear Ian Stocks is holding the fort, alongside Messrs A. Marshall, J. McBriarty, N. Hartley, J. McMurray and A. Rudd. Trombonist Hartley sang a few, including Smiles and Sweet Lorraine, backed as ever by pianist Jeremy McMurray and the rhythm section and the ever-sympathetic horns (Marshall and McBriarty). 

Jim McBriarty (alto sax and clarinet) sang his share, Harold Arlen's As Long As I Live a good one, likewise Ellington's Just Squeeze Me. Jim Charlton joined the boys for a measured clarinet feature on Burgundy Street Blues. Hailstones, snow, dud raffle tickets, what's not to like about a Friday afternoon at the Crescent Club? Classic Swing's weekly residency is well worth getting along to. One o'clock, free admission, an accomplished band, a selection of decent beers, that's the Crescent Club. Russell   

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