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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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: 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

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

West Coast Octet @ the Railway, Stockport - May 9

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Eileen Guppy (piano); Paul Hartley (guitar); Ben Wilshire (bass); Andy Bold (drums); Gair Carson (tenor sax); Duncan Winfield (trombone); Neil Kershaw (flugel); Simon Reynolds (baritone sax).

Dave Pell (1925-2017) worked as a sideman in many well known big bands such as Shorty Rogers, Gene Krupa, and Les Brown. He also worked in the Hollywood film and recording studios and many famous jazz musicians including Art Pepper, Benny Carter and Pepper Adams passed through the ranks of his octet. As a saxophonist he was heavily influenced by Lester Young but as a bandleader his small groups had a distinct west coast sound.

This tribute band played twenty tunes tonight which has got to be a record for total numbers played at this venue. Paul Hartley did a great job handling the guitar parts but also introduced each tune and proved to be an entertaining and informative narrator.  Pell used the best arrangers for his octet and tonight we got to hear some interesting arrangements by Marty Paich, Shorty Rogers and Mel Tormé etc.


There were two young musicians that I had not seen before at the Railway and they had an important role in the proceedings. They were Simon Reynolds on baritone sax and Neil Kershaw on flugelhorn and I would like to hear more from both of them.


Everyone played their parts well and contributed solos but they were short ones due to the restrictions of the arrangements, most of which I liked. Highspots for me were Mountain Greenery. If I Had You, and Angel Eyes mainly because I just like those tunes! I once picked up a real bargain at a charity shop for  50p which was a CD titled Dave Pell Octet Live at Alphonse's and another bargain buy was from an antique shop in Geelong, Australia, last year which I haven’t got round to playing yet. This was Dave Pell Plays Today's Hits in Jazz some of which were featured in tonight's concert. 


It was pleasing to see a good Tuesday night turnout. The next jazz night at the Railway is on Sunday May 14 with the Dave Lynane Quartet. Mike Farmer


Walking my Baby Back Home; Isle of Capri; Angel Eyes; Working On The Railroad; Mountain Greenery; Cast Your Fate to the Wind; Java Junction; You Are Too Beautiful; Have You Met Miss Jones?; And a Piece of Pie; Tishomingo Blues; Forty Second Street; Six Two Five; If I Had You; Ballin’ the Jack; Shimmy Sha Wobble; By The River St Marie; Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered; One Note Samba; Like Someone in Love

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