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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: 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

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Dorman's All Stars @ Dorman's Jazz Club Middlesbrough Sept. 21

Jeremy McMurray (piano); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet/flugel); Ron Smith (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums).

Due to holiday arrangements this was the second guest band of the month. However, this led to the formation of some of the best jazz musicians who have regularly played here.

An excellent choice of materiel played with great enthusiasm and skill to an appreciative audience with an age range from 16 (James) to 92 (Frank) made for a first class night of jazz.

Starting the night with an impressive version of  the Nat Adderley classic Work Song with full band intro before a fine trumpet solo from Kevin, sax from Richie and piano from Jeremy backed by driving drums and bass from Mark and Ron set the style and the standard for the night.

A nice interpretation of On Green Dolphin St with both the tune's Latin and swing rhythms providing backing for great solo work.

A tribute to Miles Davis then followed with Kevin using muted trumpet on both All Blues and Freddie Freeloader to great effect.

The mood changed with a swinging Fly Me To The Moon before bringing the tempo down a little to finish the first set  off with Milt Jackson's Bags Groove.

Monk's Straight, No Chaser made for an exciting start to the second set with terrific solos from trumpet, piano and sax before a round of fours finished it off.

A relaxed Sonny Rollins' Doxy was followed by Luiz Bonfá's beautiful Latin number  Manhã de Carnival which featured Linda singing and Kevin on flugel.

Oliver Nelson's Stolen Moments again had Kevin on flugel before reverting back to trumpet for Clifford Brown's  Sandu - a blues played with great feeling by the whole band.

The penultimate number was the fast swinging John Coltrane composition Mr P.C. with blistering trumpet, piano, tenor  and Mark with a fine drum solo.
A more relaxed John Coltrane number Blue Train had solos all round including a bass chorus from Ron bringing this excellent night of jazz to a close.

(Quoting words from Richie) "It was a cracker! Great to play stuff by Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and Miles Davis again. Thoroughly absorbing on stage with Kev, Jeremy, Ron and Mark. Well played lads! As usual to a very appreciative audience".

Thanks go to the staff of Dormans Club for their help and support. Ron Hampton

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