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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ 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

Tuesday, November 07, 2023

The Classic Jazz Party @ The Village Hotel, North Tyneside - Nov. 3 (afternoon)

At noon on Friday That's a Plenty got things off to a fine start. By tradition the first concert proper is a Tribute to Mike (the late Mike Durham, who's name is above the door, ran the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival, forerunner to the Classic Jazz Party). His good friend Spats Langham did the honours, sharing the stage with CJP veterans (young and old), French trumpeter Malo Mazurié,  Alistair Allan (trombone), from Italy, Mauro Porro (reeds), Martin Litton (at the Kawai grand), Londoner Richard Pite (tuba, string bass) and the man from Davenport, Iowa, Josh Duffee (drums). To a man, they all knew Mike, they all knew what this tribute was about.

Tribute to Mike would be the first of seven sets during the afternoon (throughout the weekend the turn-around time between sets would be minimal with musicians vacating/assuming their seats without a second to spare). Presented by Michael McQuaidThe NORK and their Circle surveyed the output of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings. Hot jazz, in a hot, if not stuffy, hall, performed by A-listers, including Chicagoan And Schumm (cornet), from N'Awlins, pianist David Boeddinghaus, from Milan, Lorenzo Baldasso (reeds) making his CJP debut, and local lad, Phil Rutherford (tuba). A terrific set!  

Dan Barrett presented his Continental Connection taking a broad bush approach to 'neglected gems from the late 1920s and early 1930s'. Deed I Do a highlight, yes, indeed. 

In from Portland, Oregon, pianist Andrew Oliver worked in trio format alongside David Horniblow (clarinet) and the ever-smiling period percussion specialist Nicholas D. Ball, their half-hour set examining Jelly Roll Morton's clarinet/piano/drums sides. 

Trumpeter Malo Mazurié led an enticing-looking set...Dickie Wells Meets Django. Featuring Dan Barrett as Dickie Wells and Félix Hunot as Django Reinhardt (Mazurié, Norwegian Torstein Kubban and New Yorker Mike Davis, trumpets, the session focussed upon the 1937 meeting of the two giants of jazz.

Nicolle Rochelle (pictured) assumed the role of Eva Taylor in a set looking at the singer's relationship, musically and personally, with Clarence Williams (they were a married couple). Shout, Sister! Eva Taylor & Clarence Williams (the penultimate set of the afternoon) featured the principals and Malo Mazurié (trumpet), Graham Hughes (trombone), the reeds of Claus Jacobi and Matthias Seuffert, Martin Gunnar Larsen (piano), Spats Langham playing banjo and guitar with a vocal number, CJP favourite Malcolm Sked (tuba, string bass) and Nicholas (Nick) D. Ball (drums and washboard). Rochelle singing Baby Won't You Please Come Home? and Moanin' Low proved to be undoubted highlights. 

To close a full afternoon of world class jazz, Mike Davis dedicated an hour to Stardust and Beyond - the Music of Hoagy Carmichael. A stage chock full of big hitters - including Messrs Barrett (trombone), McQuaid, Lorenzo Baldasso and Richard Exall (reeds) and virtuoso violinist Emma Fisk - delivered the goods. A set with a difference, Davis looked at Hoagy's actual recording sessions as opposed to his many, much-loved songs. It had been a fine first session. Russell                

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