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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

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

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

The Big Chris Barber Band @ Whitley Bay Playhouse - May 30

Bob Hunt (MD, trombone); Mike Henry (trumpet, vocals); Gabriel Garrick (trumpet, vocals); Trevor Whiting (tenor sax, clarinet); Richard Exall (tenor sax, alto sax, clarinet); Nick White (soprano sax, alto sax, bass sax, clarinet); Joe Farler (banjo, guitar); Joe Trudgeon (double bass); Steve Vintner (drums) 

Chris Barber's legacy lives on. His nine piece band continues to fly the flag with concert engagements at home and abroad. This rescheduled Whitley Bay Playhouse concert attracted the faithful, their diminishing number no doubt due to a combination of factors - infirmity, old age or, perhaps, having recently joined Barber in the Jazz Club in the Sky. As the house lights dimmed a solitary figure ambled out onto the stage ...

Barber's long-serving right hand man Bob Hunt sat on a stool, peered into the auditorium and said: Christ, there's not many of you, is there? The Big Chris Barber Band's MD told it as it was. Hunt, joined by his bandmates, opened with Bourbon Street Parade. In no time at all band and audience were having a ball. Unexpectedly, the band reeled off five numbers without pausing for breath. It was only after a hot Jubilee Stomp that band members addressed the audience. It was all very convivial, everyone, on stage and off, were determined to have a good time. 

The Barber years were revisited, from the early 'trad jazz' days through to mid-fifties' Whistlin' Rufus (a tune from the nineteenth century!) to the expansive Ellington charts, not forgetting Barber's pioneering support of the many American blues musicians who, through his efforts, made it across the Atlantic (Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee's Cornbread, Peas and Black Molasses). What would the faithful make of Miles Davis' modal jazz? It is heartening to report that All Blues didn't frighten the horses. The Ellington numbers proved to be the icing on the cake: Black and Tan FantasyEast St Louis Toodle-ooMerry-Go-Round

The musicianship couldn't be faulted (all soloing at some point during the evening), similarly the ensemble work, very polished, these guys are top notch pros. A Big Chris Barber Band concert wouldn't be a Big Chris Barber Band concert without Petit Fleur. We got it and more. It's likely some in the audience heard Barber first time round, seventy-odd years ago. Here's to the next time. Russell                 

1 comment :

Patti said...

Before the band started playing 'Whistling Rufus', there was a bit of giggling among the musicians - and Bob told us a little background story. Princess Margaret was a big fan of the band in the 1950's, and went to many of their concerts. Before one of these she was backstage to meet the musicians - when she saw Chris she sidled up to him and asked if he could play one of her favourite numbers 'Whispering Rupert'. The boys in the band heard this, and from then on, Chris Barber was called 'Rupert'.

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