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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, November 08, 2023

The Black Swan jam session - Nov. 7

It's becoming a thing - arriving at the Black Swan well before seven o'clock when the doors are scheduled to open. Punters old and new were in the queue. A queue at a jam session! Before the seven thirty start the place was more than busy. A while later, up on the street, Newcastle Arts Centre resorted to operating a 'one in, one out' policy. Who'd have thought it?! 
The house trio - pianist Ben Phillips, bassist Paul Grainger and drummer Abbie Finn - set the standard with On Green Dolphin Street. One sensed it was going to be a good session. 

Two or three tunes in, Harry Keeble got up to play a couple of numbers, In a Sentimental Mood an early highlight, that's for sure. The man of the moment, alto saxophonist Luis Verde, chipped in with a couple of numbers of his own, on There'll Never Be Another You flanked by Keeble and trumpeter Elliott Todd. Quite a line-up! 

The pace didn't let up all night. The Black Swan merry-go-round spun ever faster...young Lara Rana (one to watch) on trumpet with John Rowland on tenor for company, Jan Spencelayh singing, accompanied by Elliott Todd, guitarist Ben Helm and Alex Shipsey, bass (MC Grainger making a rare excursion to the bar), The singers were queuing up - Becky, Kate, Issie, Lisa, Ellen and others. A rare appearance by pianist Grace Alexander enabled Ben Phillips to 'take five', they were coming thick and fast. And then, to close, the man himself, Mr Paul Skerritt! Let the Good Times Roll - what else?! Entertainment with an upper case 'E', first rate jazz musicians, a welcoming venue, it's little wonder they're queueing at the door. The next Black Swan jam session is scheduled for Tuesday 21st, 7:30pm prompt. If you want a ringside seat for the best free show in town the best advice is...arrive early! Russell

Ben Phillips (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble, John Rowland (tenor sax); Luis Verde (alto sax); Jacob Egglestone, Ben Helm, Liam ?, ? (guitar); Lara Rana, Elliott Todd, Edgar Bell (trumpet); David Gray (trombone); Grace Alexander, ? (piano); Alex Shipsey (bass); Jamie Watkins, Owen Jones (double bass); Bailey Rudd, Freddie Richards, Josh ? (drums); Jan Spencelayh, Becky Tuck, ?, Kate O'Neill, Issie ?, Lisa ?, Ellen ?, Paul Skerritt, Ian Drever (vocals)      
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