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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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

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, March 13, 2023

GNBBJF - Sunday 5 (Schools Section)

Sunday morning, bright and early. Following a workshop for a group of young musicians, the second day of competitive big band action began at eleven o'clock. Schools from across the region and one or two from further afield would battle it out to be crowned best band at the 2023 edition of the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival. Later in the day it would be the turn of the youth ensembles. 

Yarm School Big Band (MDChris Hibbard). Yarm School, not too far south of Chester-le-Street, made a welcome return to the GNBBJF with Chris Hibbard putting his young charges through their paces. No fewer than five pieces formed Yarm's programme, opening with Bobby Timmons' Moanin' and closing with the old warhorse Bei Mir Bist Du Schon, the band's bass player made a good impression (notes read: Good bass player). Vocalist Elise Wilcock sang a couple of numbers which went down well with the Park View audience. What would the adjudicators think?

All the way from Telford, Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Jazz Band (MDTom Gledhill) returned to defend last year's 'Best Band' winning appearance. The Shropshire outfit, led by 'Mr' Tom Gledhill, opened with something of a surprise selection - Lennon and McCartney's I Saw Her Standing There (arr. Dave Wolpe). Trumpeter Ed Follos scored points on Bill Liston's Another Look at the Diminished Chord and the band signed off with Kris Berg's Feather Report. A stout effort, would it be enough to see the band make a successful title defence? 

A first appearance at Chester-le-Street by Ponteland High School Big Band (MDPhilip Rosier) suggests music education in that part of the world (a couple of miles west of Newcastle International Airport) is on the up. Four numbers, opening with Joe Zawinul's Birdland and closing with Gordon Goodwin's ever popular Jazz Police, the ensemble did Ponteland High School proud. Would the adjudicators be inclined to make an award?

Last, but by no means least, the band from Harrogate, St Aidan's Swing Band (MDVicki Elliott) would conclude the morning's session. Previous winners at the GNBBJF, Vicki Elliott's swinging band (see photo) produced an excellent performance. It Don't Mean a Thing (if it ain't got that swing)Splanky (good ensemble work), My Funny Valentine as arranged by Sammy Nestico, St Aidan's certainly put themselves in the frame. Carnival Kerfuffle closed the set. The winning band? The adjudicators were about to make the all important decision. 

Following a short intermission the presentation party assembled on stage and festival director Bill Watson read out the results as follows:     

Adjudicators' award: Bass player (Yarm School Big Band)

Adjudicators' award: Lauren Campbell, vocal (Ponteland High School Big Band)

Adjudicators' award: Elise Wilcock, vocalist (Yarm School Big Band)

Best Programme: St Aidan's Swing Band

Best Section: Brass section (trumpets & trombones), St Aidan's Swing Band

Best Soloist: Ed Follos, trumpet (St Aidan's Swing Band)

Best Band: Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Jazz Band 

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