Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 2026)

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

18532 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 396 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 15) 50

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

From This Moment On

May

Sat 16: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. God Bless the Child - Lady Day!. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 16: Kaberry Big Band @ the Seahorse Pub, Hillheads Rd., Whitley Bay NE23 8HR. From 7:30pm. £15.00
Sat 16: Lady Nade @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. ‘Lady Nade sings Nina Simone’.

Sun 17: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ Forum Theatre, Billingham. 7:30pm.
Sun 17: QOW Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Spike Wells, Riley Stone-Lonergan & Eddie Myer.

Mon 18: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 18: Mark Williams Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 19: GoGo Penguin + Daudi Matsiko @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £22.00 + £4.40 bf.
Tue 19: Danny Lowndes’ Hot Club @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £5.00 bf.
Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Mark Robertson (drums).

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Jordan Jackson @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.80 (inc. bf); £15.40 (inc. bf).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Jazz Classics with Rivkala @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Rivkala (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Thu 21: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 22: Paul Skerritt @ Market Place, Durham. From 12 noon. Free. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Fri 22: Paul Edis Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00. Edis, Andy Champion, Steve Hanley.
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 22: Paul Edis Trio @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £TBC. Edis, Andy Champion, Steve Hanley.

Monday, June 05, 2023

Swinging at the Cotton Club @ The Fire Station, Sunderland - June 4

The Fire Station is on something of a roll. A regular programme of jazz concerts across the spectrum is clearly paying dividends. This evening 'Harry Strutter' was in town with his Hot Rhythm Orchestra performing alongside the ever-energetic Lindy Hop Dance Company. Orchestra and troupe would win a standing ovation from yet another large turn out here on High Street West. 

The Hot Rhythm Orchestra has been on the go for decades, long before some in the audience were but a twinkle in the eye. The programme familiar, the musicianship of the highest order, Lee Payne's eye-catching tap routines, the Lindy Hop guys and gals hoofing it, it all adds up to a winner. Exactly Like You, Black Beauty, Andy Woon's front-of-stage trumpet feature on Stardust, there was something for everyone. 

Dressed in an outrageous zoot suit number (making the late George Melly's wardrobe look positively sober), MC and vocalist Megs Etherington kept the show moving along. American singer Marlene Hill sang GASbook numbers (Bill Bailey, Willow Weep for Me), show/film tunes (Stormy Weather), a gospel number, alternating with the Lindy Hoppers' exhausting routines. The boys in the band got the opportunity to play - C Jam Blues, Happy Feet, Hill vocalising on Creole Love Call - and that most elegant of pianists, Martin Litton, briefly took centre stage playing Jelly Roll Morton's Grandpa's Spells. 

The Fire Station is putting bums on seats, what's more, it's all good stuff. More jazz to come? Yes, the cookin' Hammond organ James Taylor Quartet will be there on June 16 and in July (Friday 21), the region's very own Strictly Smokin' Big Band with Alice Grace will be playing Ella and Ellington. Book now at: www.sunderlandculture.org.uk. Russell        
           
Harry Strutters' Hot Rhythm Orchestra: Megs Etherington (MC, vocals); Marlene Hill (vocals); Andy Woon (trumpet); Tony Carter (alto sax, clarinet); Chris Macdonald (alto sax, tenor sax, clarinet); Paul Taylor (trombone); Martin Litton (piano); Maurice Dennis (banjo, guitar); Allan Sokell (sousaphone); Graham Collicott (drums) + Lee Payne (tap dance) & the Lindy Hop Dance Company 
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