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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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, November 22, 2023

The Black Swan jam session @ Newcastle Arts Centre - Nov. 21

The Black Swan, first and third Tuesday in the month, join the queue. Queuing to get into a jam session?! Yep, such is the interest down on Westgate Road punters are turning up earlier and earlier. Other than the house trio it's anyone's guess who'll turn up. This evening would be an ever-accelerating merry-go-round of experienced heads and keen-as-mustard newbies.

Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger and Tim Johnston are 'been there, done that' types but they cannot be other than encouraged, if not impressed, by the emerging talent on the Tyneside jazz scene. A couple of numbers to warm up and the floor was open to the first of the sitters-in. The Ruddicks - that's Baghdaddian alto sax wizard Paul Ruddick and trumpeter Shivan (son of P. Ruddick) - led the way. 

From the house trio's All the Things You Are to sitters-in calling Trane, Brubeck, GASbook numbers (Beautiful LovePerdidoLover ManBlack Coffee, Caravan, the list goes on) and more, the joint was jumpin'. Lots of chatter, noisy chatter, the bar ticking over, folk having a good time, you can't/shouldn't  knock it.

Representing the old guard, it was good to see - and hear - John Rowland blowing old school, swinging tenor and the aforementioned P. Ruddick putting down a marker to any alto sax wannabies. Good to see Joe Steels (guitar) dropping by, Conor Emery (trombone), Alex Shipsey (bass), the graduates Jacob Egglestone and Bailey Rudd (guitar and drums respectively) and a clutch of drummers - debutant Joe (Take Five), Bailey, Josh Weir, Michael Mather, Freddie Richards. 

Newcastle University student Ollie (tenor sax) made his Black Swan debut. The word has it he was feeling a tad nervous. Ollie can play, no worries, we'll be hearing more from him, that's for sure. Becky Tuck was in the house. A gigging musician, it was great to see Becky supporting the 'first and third Tuesday in the month' jam session (see photo: Becky with Conor Emery).

Entering the home straight, Mr P.C. - Paul Grainger - assembled the troops for the grand finale. So many of them got up it was difficult to count 'em all - twelve, thirteen, fourteen...And off they went blowing on C Jam Blues (see photo: the frontline horns - Shivan, Ollie, Conor, Esther, the common denominator...they're the new kids on the block). The next Black Swan jam session ('first Tuesday') is scheduled for Tuesday 5 December. It's a 7:30pm start, be prepared to join the queue for the best free show in town. Russell

Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums) + Paul Ruddick (alto sax); Esther Coombes (alto sax, clarinet); John Rowland, Ollie ? (tenor sax); Shivan Ruddick, Edgar Bell (trumpet); Jacob Egglestone, Joe Steels (guitar); Conor Emery, David Gray (trombone); Alex Shipsey, Jamie Watkins (bass guitar); Owen Jones (double bass); Joe, Bailey Rudd, Josh Weir, Michael Mather, Freddie Richards (drums); Kate O'Neill, Ian Drever, Becky Tuck, ? (vocals)

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