Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

August

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: 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 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Friday, December 22, 2023

Classic Swing's Christmas party @ the Crescent Club - Dec. 22

Olive Rudd (vocals); Jim McBriarty  (alto sax, clarinet, vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Neville Hartley (trombone, vocals); Jeremy McMurray (piano; Alan Rudd (bass guitar); Ian Hetherington (drums).

It was party time down at the coast with Classic Swing living up to the band's name - swinging classically. Indeed their eponymous opener did just that.

Jim McBriarty chanted the words to As Long as I Live and there were excellent solos all round. It was late December so it came as no surprise when Olive opted to sing Winter Wonderland for her opening aria. This was followed by When the (That?) Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves For Alabam'. Jeremy who, when not quoting Jingle Bells in his solos had earlier slipped in an A-Train quote which lead to another train inspired number in the form of Basie's 9:20 Special.

Neville sang I Believe in Miracles and Olive returned for Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. Meanwhile, raffle tickets were being sold hand over fist which wasn't surprising given the array of prizes up for grabs (see photo).

It was truly 'S Wonderful which was the number the band finished off the set with.

The numbers were drawn fast and furious and everybody 'won' a prize. Our table alone scored for bottles of Bell's whisky, Gordon's gin, Bacardi and (by choice) biscuits. Not many others went for the biscuits!

On top of all that excitement there was a buffet that ensured nobody went home hungry - or thirsty.

A shortened second set had Stevedore Stomp, Jim crooning What More Can I Ask? and Olive taking it out with Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and a stomping Doctor Jazz which saw some Terpsichorian activity.

This had been a swell party with special thanks to Olive and Alan Rudd who made it all possible. How can they possibly top this next year?! Lance

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