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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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

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. SOLD OUT!
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.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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

Saturday, April 08, 2023

The Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - April 6

Bill Watson, Kevin Eland, Colin Miller, Alan Catherall (trumpets); Keith Jeffries, Neville Hartley, Dave Brocklesby, Alistair Wood (trombones); Richie Emmerson (MD), Ray Dales, Alan Thompson, Barbara Fagan, Norman Scriven. (saxes); Dave Archbold (keys) Karen McCleave (bass) Ed Maughan (guitar); Paul Smith (drums).

The band, led by saxophonist Richie Emmerson, consisted of 17 first class musicians many of them familiar faces at the Tees Hot Club.

Living up to the expectations of the audience they presented a night of varied and professionally arranged big band compositions which made for a highly successful evening.

For Kenton fans the band started with the Lennie Niehaus’ arrangement of On The Street Where You Live - clearly showing their class.

Frenesi  was followed by a Sammy Nestico  arrangement of  Lonely Street featuring Ray Dales who, at 86, is still playing fine alto sax. This Could be the Start of Something Big included nice solos from Bill Watson (trumpet) Dave Archbold (keys) and excellent drumming from Paul Smith.

Jimmy Van Heusen's Here's That Rainy Day featured Kevin Eland (trumpet) and Henry Mancini's Charade included sax solos from Richie Emmerson (tenor) and Alan Thompson (alto). Speak Low with a nice guitar solo from Ed Maughan was followed with I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’ from Porgy and Bess played hip hop style.

The first set ended with an up tempo version of The Heat is on with excellent sax from Richie and fine ensemble work from the four trumpets.

No introduction was required for the start of the second set, a swinging Take the A Train with great backing from Karen McCleave (bass) Paul Smith (drums), Dave Archbold (keys) and a fine trombone solo from Dave Brocklesby. A nice contrast to A Train was Benny Golson's Whisper Not followed by  Kenton's King Fish.

Bill Watson featured on flugel with the beautiful ballad Monday's Child. Count Basie's up tempo Flight of the Foo Birds had the band really swinging. Louis Bellson's Brush Taps with a skilful drum intro from Paul was followed by a Sammy Nestico arrangement of  Day In Day Out.

Gordon Goodwin's theme tune from Beauty and the Beast was supposedly the final number but with the night going so well a swinging Love For Sale was played as an encore finally bringing the night to a close.

The first big band guest night of the year was a great success thanks to the professionalism of the band members and leader saxophonist/raconteur Richie Emmerson.

Thanks to Dorman’s for the extra bar staff and general support. Ron Hampton 

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