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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.

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!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Monday, November 13, 2023

The Classic Jazz Party @ The Village Hotel, North Tyneside - Nov. 4 (afternoon)

Saturday's programme began earlier than in previous years. Friday's late night jam session didn't deter festival-goers from making an early Saturday morning trip to the 'flicks'. At 10:00am Doc Bastide presented the second of three film screenings and the 'cinema' (actually a small meeting room) was full to capacity to see - and hear - Louis Armstrong on screen.

At noon Martin Wheatley looked at Jack Hylton's output during 1921-23 in a set titled Jack Hylton - the Early Years . Assisted by yet another star-studded line-up, including Jan Kaiser and Torstein Kubban, trumpets, the elegant trombonist Alistair Allan, local heroes Emma Fisk, violin, and Phil Rutherford, tuba.

Glenn Miller's Small Band - the Uptown Hall Gang wasn't merely 'the music of', rather a more focused presentation featuring small combos from within Miller's wartime band and their radio broadcasts. Pianist Martin Litton did the research, duly presenting a most entertaining hour-long programme with trombonist Dan Barrett centre stage.

Caribbean Clarinets did what it said on the tin. Michael McQuaid looked at largely forgotten names of the instrument, including Alexandre Stellio and Eugène Delouche, both from Martinique, although generations apart. The musicians on stage with McQuaid included Martin Wheatley (banjo, guitar), himself a keen student of the music. Roy Eldridge afforded Enrico Tomasso the opportunity to blow some red hot trumpet 'Little Jazz' would have been proud of. Heckler's Hop - Young Roy Eldridge swung and roared,  Tomasso ably assisted by the reeds of Richard Exall, David Horniblow and Mauro Porro, pianist Martin Litton, string bassist Richard Pite and ace American drummer Josh Duffee. A cracking set.

The afternoon's set piece occasion ensured all seats were occupied, no one, but no one, wanted to miss this one. Italian star Mauro Porro led an all-star ensemble in an hour long performance of Cotton Club Ellington. The set list for Ring Dem Bells - Duke Ellington 1929 - 31 was based upon the arrangements of Claus Jacobi and the much-missed Keith Nichols. Magisterial, swinging, this Ellington set would vie for the highlight of the weekend. It's worth noting all participants: Torstein Kubban, Mike Davis, Malo Mazurié (trumpets), Graham Hughes and Dan Barrett (trombones), David Horniblow, Matthias Seuffert, Claus Jacobi (reeds), Mauro Porro (piano), Josh Duffee (vibes), Félix Hunot (banjo, guitar), Henry Lemaire (string bass), Nick Ward (drums), Nicolle Rochelle (vocals). A truly memorable occasion.

Souvenirs of A.B - Arthur Briggs & Al Bowlly  contrasted sharply with what had gone before, but none the worse for that. In the early twenties Arthur Briggs was working in Europe, Al Bowlly in Africa and Asia. They joined forces in Berlin during 1927 and it was this period which inspired Claus Jacobi to present a half hour programme drawn from their collaboration. Imagine Frenchman Malo Mazurié Briggs and, of course, Spats Langham as Bowlly. It worked well. 

To close the afternoon's entertainment, we were treated to a most welcome CJP first, the 'first' being Cia Tomasso leading a set. In fact, singer Cia co-presented I Hear Music - Billie in the Late 30s alongside her father, Whitely Bay veteran, trumpeter Rico Tomasso. The impressive Lorenzo Baldasso sat in the reeds, pianist David Boeddinghaus, who knows a thing or two about Billie Holiday, was on board, the French pairing of guitarist Félix Hunot and bassist Henry Lemaire were nothing short of tremendous, the whole thing topped off by drummer Josh Duffee. Cia Tomasso is one to watch and hear, that's for sure. Russell 

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