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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

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, June 21, 2023

The midsummer Black Swan jam session - June 20

A day of torrential rain gave way to a pleasantly warm summer's evening. Would the students be gone for the summer? Would others opt for a back garden BBQ? Would anyone make the effort to go into town for the Black Swan jam session? The answer to the latter question was emphatically YES! In no time at all the Newcastle Arts Centre's basement venue was doing good business. Long time jam session supporters bagged their favourite seats, new faces - a surprising number of them - took a pew wherever they could. Welcome to the best free show in town! 

The house trio - Messrs Law, Grainger and Johnston - kicked off with a breezy Summer Wind. John Rowland blowing tenor - the man is Hawkins, Webster and more - took us back to the thirties. The Lady is a Tramp and A Foggy Day in London Town received the Ian Drever treatment, the word 'bold' springs to mind. Speaking of bold, upfront performance, step forward Kate O'Neill. The Man I Love and a wrought In My Solitude were more than a match for Mr D, the latter number featuring Luis Verde on alto and Esther Coombes on clarinet. 

Bop charts are a staple of the Black Swan jam sessions and Luis and Esther were joined by Alex Shipsey playing double bass (later in the evening switching to bass guitar) and the ever-reliable Kris Finney behind the kit. David Gray was in the house, as was Stu Collingwood (Alan Law happily vacating the piano stool) and, long-time-no-see Minnie Fraser, Goody, Goody sang Minnie. And another singer, Cath Stephens, sang Skylark and Monk's wonderfully quirky Well, You Needn't. Good stuff from Minnie and Cath.

The graduate boys were in the house - Jacob Egglestone and Bailey Rudd. Over the last couple of years the Newcastle University lads have made excellent contributions to the jam session. Good on them for continuing to support the night. Owen Jones sat in on bass allowing Mr PG (our MC) the opportunity to get to the bar for a well-earned pint. Kayleigh (apologies if the spelling isn't correct!) sang Norah Jones' big hit Don't Know Why, accompanied by the singers' accompanist, Mr Alan Law. 

Bop numbers never fail to fill the floor - Law, Egglestone, Jones, drummer Freddie Richards, Verde, Showtime, later MC Mr PG and, muscling in on the act, Edgar Bell, all blowing on Night in Tunisia. Ah, Ray Burns called Masquerade, Ah, Niffi, that's Niffi Osiyemi, declared: I'm Beginning to See the Light and, before we knew it, it was all hands on deck for the closer, Let the Good Times Roll. To quote MC Grainger: It's always this good. And it is, the next session is scheduled for Tuesday 4 July (7:30pm prompt). The 4th of July! Will any Americans show? Get along to find out. Russell                     

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums) + John Rowland (tenor sax); Ian Drever (vocals); Kate O'Neill (vocals); Luis Verde (alto sax); Esther Coombes (clarinet, alto sax); Kris Finney (drums); Alex Shipsey (double bass, bass guitar); Liam (guitar); David Gray (trombone); Minnie Fraser (vocals); Stu Collingwood (piano); Cath Stephens (vocals); Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Owen Jones (double bass); Bailey Rudd (drums); Kayleigh (vocals); Edgar Bell (trumpet); Freddie Richards (drums); Ray Burns (harmonica, vocals); Remi (guitar); Niffi Osiyemi (vocals)

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