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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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

Friday evening's programme began with something a little different. Michel 'Doc' Bastide made a welcome return to North Tyneside to present A Selection of Rare Jazz Films from his extensive collection of movie rarities. There would be three opportunities - Friday evening, Saturday morning, Sunday morning - to attend a screening and the demand was such that each 'house' would be over subscribed. A rare treat indeed.

Richard Pite's Party Pieces presented a miscellany of melodic mischief with six musical marvels. A fun way to start the evening's entertainment. From Pite's melodic mischief to a long overdue look at the work of the little-known saxophonist Loren McMurray. The Saxophone of Loren McMurray occupied much of Michael McQuaid's time researching, transcribing and, here at the Village Hotel, finally presenting the music of McMurray to an attentive full house. 

Runnin' Wild - the Benny Goodman Trio couldn't fail to deliver the goods. The music of the ever-popular BG trio wows the punters every time and here at the CJP, making his festival debut, Lorenzo Baldasso charmed his audience. A contemporary of fellow countryman Mauro Porro, Baldasso (reeds), working with pianist David Boeddinghaus and drummer Josh Duffee made a big impression. It's likely we'll be seeing - and hearing - more of L. Baldasso in the future.

Claus Jacobi spent many an hour writing out charts for the evening's grand finale. Listen to the Doc! Doc Cook's Dreamland Orchestra presented the swinging sounds of Doc Cook's 1920s' Chicago outfit - Freddie Keppard, Jimmie Noone, Johnny St. Cyr et al - as heard at Paddy Harmon's legendary Dreamland venue. Jacobi assembled a to-die-for orchestra: Andy Schumm (cornet), Torstein Kubban (trumpet), the reeds of Messrs McQuaid, Porro, Exall and Jacobi himself, Andrew Oliver (piano), Henry Lemaire (banjo), Spats Langham (banjo, ukulele, vocals), Malcolm Sked (tuba) and Nick Ball (drums). A fitting end to a long day of top quality jazz. 

Ah, not quite the end! At eleven o'clock, the audience, as one, scurried round to the hotel bar for the first of three late night jam sessions. A front row table, a pint of Guinness (the first of several), the session led by French trumpeter Malo Mazurié, this being the weekend of Guy Fawkes, the word 'incendiary' came to mind. And sure enough, we heard superb, blistering trumpet playing courtesy of Monsieur Mazurié. The house band included the impressive Lorenzo Baldasso blowing some scintillating clarinet, the Crescent City's David Boeddinghaus at the upright and David Horniblow dropping anchor on bass sax. The sitters-in were many, all A-list, including, up from Bristol, the ebullient Jack Calloway, clarinet (see photo), Mauro Porro at the house piano, yes piano. Signor Porro is an amazing multi-instrumentalist (reeds, piano), arranger, bandleader etc...

Porro isn't alone in being an amazing musician here at the Classic Jazz Party. From France, Henry Lemaire's propulsive string bass playing never fails to excite, CJP favourite Félix Hunot playing banjo and leaping up to sing a chorus or two. Is there no end to their talents? It was silly o'clock, the hotel staff began setting out breakfast tables (a not-so-subtle hint that it was time to sleep). Saturday (day two of this year's Classic Jazz Party) would soon be dawning. Russell  

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