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HOWAY THE LADS!

Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: Pearl Blossoms @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime.
Sun 16: Hot 8 Brass Band @ Wylam Brewery. 7:30pm. ‘Big Tuba Tour’.
Sun 16: ARQ @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Air4ce @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:30pm (8:00pm doors). £12.00.; £10.00. Tom Atkinson’s all-star band (line-up inc. Lindsay Hannon & Sue Ferris).
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: Jamie Toms Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.
Tue 18: Phil Bancroft’s Beautiful Storm @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20 & £11.00.. A JNE-Gem Arts co-promotion.

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: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ 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: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

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: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ 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: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

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 (evening)

Saturday evening opened with the first of this year's Piano Professor setsAt the Kawai grand, Morten Gunnar Larsen. Most recently heard at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as a guest of the all-conquering Tenement Jazz Band, Larsen presented a masterclass in rags, stomps and numbers from the Caribbean and South America. In a brief ceremony, the 2023 Classic Jazz Party Young Talent Award was presented to David Hermlin. Graciously accepting the honour, we would be hearing more from the Berlin based musician later in the evening. 

A King Oliver Centenary ensured yet another attentive, full house. Claus Jacobi is a King Oliver specialist and this hour long set completed his series of concerts celebrating Joseph Nathan 'King' Oliver. The repertoire is well known, however, this being the Classic Jazz Party the focus of this session was on the unfamiliar - Oliver's unissued sides. Three of the Jazz Party's American heavyweights were deployed - Messrs. Andy Schumm (cornet), Dan Barrett (trombone), Andrew Oliver (piano) - making for a great set.

Wail of the Five Birmingham Babies presented the California Ramblers in disguise. David Horniblow led the session playing bass sax (adopting the role of Adrian Rollini minus the hot fountain pen and goofus!). Another three US hot shots were drafted in in the form of New Yorker Mike Davis (trumpet), from the Crescent City, pianist David Boeddinghaus and from Davenport, Iowa, the brilliant Josh Duffee (drums). 

Paris based actor/singer Nicolle Rochelle reunited with Claus Jacobi to present Young Woman's Blues. Bessie Smith's early vocals with Clarence Williams formed the basis of their set, Jacobi assisted by Mauro Porro in the reeds, drummer Richard Pite swapping his kit and skulls for tuba, the lean Nick Ward behind the traps. Ms Rochelle is a favourite here at the Village Hotel, whatever she turns her hand to, it's with the Midas touch. 

In the early thirties Louis Armstrong spent several months performing and recording under a Californian sun. Trumpeter, indeed, Armstrong specialist, Rico Tomasso presented Memories of Louis in California. Working with an international, all-star, twelve piece band, the hugely popular Tomasso succeeded in bringing to life the music - trumpet and vocals - of perhaps the most famous name in jazz, Mr Louis Armstrong. A great set met with a great reception. 

And that was it. Not quite! The second of three late night jam sessions was about to begin in the hotel bar. A first row table reserved, the first of more than a couple of pints of Guinness (it takes an age to pour Ireland's national beer), the house band, led by Mike Davis (trumpet), played a few numbers before opening the floor to a succession of wonderfully talented sitters-in. They came from far and wide - Bristol, London, North America, South America - and each and every one of them played a blinder. From Bristol, the rabble-rousing Jack Calloway (clarinet) impressed, as did the Pickerings - that's Magus (trumpet, pictured) and Daniel (trombone) - of the Windy City Weatherbirds. And then there was the Young Talent Award winner, David Hermlin. A fantastic drummer, tap dancer and more, it was way past silly o'clock when the lights went up. It would soon be time for breakfast... Russell   

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