Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 2026)

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

18721 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 585 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 18) 49

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

From This Moment On

July

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 23: Side Café Orkestar @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Balkan, Hot Club, Klezmer.
Thu 23: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 24: Lindsay Hannon Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
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.

Sat 25: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitgerald. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Costa Café (within Next), MetroCentre, Gateshead. 2:00-3:00pm. Free.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Bright Street Big Band @ Sandhaven Amphitheatre, South Shields. 3.30-5.30pm.
Sun 26: Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.
Sun 26: King Bees @ Luckies, Jesmond, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues.

Mon 27: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: Liam & Shayo @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Liam Oliver (guitar), Shayo Oshodi (vocals).

Friday, December 01, 2023

Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - Dec. 1

Jim McBriarty (alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor sax, clarinet); Neville Hartley (trombone, vocals); Jeremy McMurray (keyboards); Alan Rudd (double bass); Jimmy Robinson (drums); Olive Rudd (vocals)

A classic winter scene greeted Classic Swing in Cullercoats. Snow on the ground, more of the white stuff threatening to fall from the skies, it was heartening to see such a good turn out at the Crescent Club. It takes more than a cold snap to deter the hardy jazz fan. 

As always, Tommy Moran's Classic Swing opened the show. The regular frontline - Jim McBriarty, Alan Marshall and Neville Hartley - sounded in fine form, pianist Jeremy McMurray and the rhythm section - Alan Rudd and depping drummer Jimmy Robinson - equally on the money. Some Ellington (Stevedore Stomp a good one), Olive Rudd singing a few, Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland for starters, Messrs McBriarty and Hartley taking one or two vocals themselves, in between blowing some great stuff. Classic fayre from Classic Swing. 

The interval. No fewer than five raffle prizes were set down on your correspondent's table. A sure sign...surely? As the tickets were drawn out of a hat, all five prizes went elsewhere, one of them to a member of the band! Did someone call for a public enquiry?!              

Second set, more classic jazz. Tangerine motored along, I Never Slept a Wink Last Night (a tune unfamiliar to your correspondent), a winning, albeit unseasonal Summertime (excellent tenor solo from A. Marshall), N. Hartley singing One Hundred Years from Today, this first day of December gig swept away a cold North Sea wind. When My Dreamboat Comes Home and that was about it, a canny session. Russell     

Set list: Classic SwingDon't Get Around Much AnymoreMeet Me Tonight in DreamlandSomeday SweetheartStevedore StompI'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a LetterJust FriendsTangerineI Never Slept a Wink Last NightDon't Sit Under the Apple TreeSummertimeWhen My Dreamboat Comes Home

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