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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

17,533 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 497 of them this year alone and, so far, 75 this month (June 23).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

Thu 26: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Brass Instruments & the use of mutes.

Fri 27: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Time After Time’.

Sat 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Linskill Centre, North Shields. 4:00-10:30pm. Free, but ticketed (over 18s only). A multi-bill, multi-genre ‘Canny Shiels - North Shields 800’ event. Three Kings Brewery on site.
Sat 28: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 29: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 29: Bal Bruch Social Dance @ As You Like It, Sandyford, Newcastle. 12:30pm. Free. Dance event with Hot Club de Heaton performing live (2:00-3:00pm). A ‘Jar on the Bar’ event.
Sun 29: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 3:00pm. Ray McVay & co.
Sun 29: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: Zoë Gilby w. Ryton Choral Society @ Corbridge Middle School NE45 5HX. 5:30pm. £15.00. Gilby w jazz trio & choir. ‘An evening of jazz song for choir’.
Sun 29: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 29: John Wilson & the Sinfonia of London @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Greatest Hits’.
Sun 29: Out Front @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

JULY 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 @ Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Sunday, May 21, 2023

The Windy City Weatherbirds @ The Vault, Hexham - May 19

Magnus Pickering (cornet, vocals); Joe Pickering (reeds); Daniel Pickering (trombone); Harrison Dolphin (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Robbie Ellison (drums)

Earlier in the day the Windy City Weatherbirds made their north of England debut at a sold out lunchtime concert at the Lit & Phil in Newcastle. This evening the London based six piece band ventured up the Tyne Valley to play a second engagement of a three-date 'up north' tour. The Vault in Hexham, an ancient cellar venue on Hallgate, attracted a select audience keen to listen to some Dixieland jazz from the best part of a century ago. 

The three frontline horns - Magnus (cornet), Joe (reeds) and Daniel (trombone) just happen to be brothers, that's the Pickering brothers. Harrison Dolphin plays guitar, Robbie Ellison plays drums and, all the way from Tyneside, short notice dep bassist, the one-and-only Paul Grainger.   

Mine Host, Ben, offers table service here in Hexham, essentially out of necessity as the place can be too crowded to facilitate a lengthy queue at the bar. Close proximity to others encourages conversation and this evening our table of four chatted amiably before and after the first set.

I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate opened the show and, judging by the reaction, the 'select' liked it! If I Had YouAt the Jazz Band Ball, as earlier in the day in Newcastle, the Windy City Weatherbirds dipped in to the 'classic jazz' era songbook, each and every one a winner. Hoagy's New Orleans, the musicians occupying every square centimetre of the stage, clearly enjoying themselves, signed off on their first set with a rousing Darktown Strutters' Ball.

Band leader Magnus leads from the front, bold cornet playing allied to heart-felt, engaging vocals, the Weatherbirds kicked-off their second set with a rousing Riverboat Shuffle. Victor Young's Sweet Sue - Just You (lyrics WJ Harris) featured more of Magnus the singer and a knockout tenor solo from brother Joe. Fleet-of-finger cornet work on 'S Wonderful gave an indication as to why Magnus is in demand on the London jazz scene - great stuff! Some like it hot, they were in luck with a scorching That's A-Plenty generating sustained applause. 

The Windy City Weatherbirds made a big impression here in the Northumberland market town, what's more, the band loved the place. There is every chance of a return visit in the not-too-distant future. The Vault is one of Hexham's little-known cultural gems. Check it out. Russell

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