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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

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

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Press release: Tom Ollendorff - Open House

Open House is the new album from rising star guitarist Tom Ollendorff. Known for his distinctive sound which blends virtuosic guitar playing with sophisticated harmonic and melodic ideas, Ollendorff’s music elegantly mixes gracefully grooving themes, baroque-like unaccompanied etudes and headlong fast-bop swing. Retaining his longstanding musical partnership of Marc Michel on drums and Conor Chaplain on bass, Ollendorff now adds New York City saxophonist Ben Wendel in to the mix. The combination of a razor-sharp band that have worked with each other for many years, alongside an exciting new player with a natural synergy to the aforementioned group, makes Open House an exhilarating listen for jazz afficionado’s and discerning music fans alike.

Tom Ollendorff’s first album ‘A Song For You’ received a plethora of accolades, with The Guardian newspaper describing it as ‘traditional but very classy’ and both BBC Music Magazine and Jazz Journal awarding it 4 star reviews. While this inspiring debut undoubtedly placed the up and coming guitarist firmly on the map, Open House clearly demonstrates an evolvement and progression within Tom Ollendorff’s art. The new album retains both the ethereal spirit and distinctive style that can be found in his previous work, but also adds an edge of confidence and maturity to the aural experience – new elements destined to excite listeners, that will ultimately push Ollendorff’s career to the next level.

Speaking about his new work, Tom Ollendorff says: “The music on this album was written (in part) on the road whilst touring. Different places have always had a profound impact on my writing process and the opportunity to tour extensively, allowing me to visit new towns, cities and countries as well as reaffirming connections with locations that I had previously got to know and love were the catalyst for this album's creation.’

Tom Ollendorff has also worked alongside internationally respected musicians such as Geoff Simkins Bill McHenry, Jeff Williams, Nitai Hershkovits and Ari Hoenig, while leading jazz guitarist Gilad Hekselman has described him as “one of the world's finest guitarists”, also saying that “his music is complex, yet rooted in melody and feeling" With Open House launching in London on June 10th, Paris June 22nd and then other international dates throughout the year including Finland, Italy, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia, this clearly demonstrate growing demand for Tom Ollendorff’s music around the world. The new album Open House will serve to further increase this international exposure.

Increasingly recognisable for the nuanced and subtle sound on his instrument of choice, Tom Ollendorff’s new album is both refreshing and soothing – a landmark release for UK jazz and the future of guitar-led musical excellence.

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