Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18469 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 333 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 27 ) 67

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

April

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:00pm. £10.00. + £1.00. bf. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Hackney Colliery Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £25.00.

Thu 30: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: International Jazz Day & JANE AGM.
Thu 30: Duke Junction @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Nadim Teimoori (tenor sax); Jeff Hewer (guitar); Martin Longhawn (organ); Steve Hanley (drums). An International Jazz Day event & the 12th anniversary of Newcastle Jazz Co-op acquiring the Globe!

May

Fri 01: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 01: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 01: Bede Wind Band + East Coast Swing Band @ Cullercoats Methodist Church. 7:30pm. £10.00. Tickets from: www.ticketsource.com, members of Bede Wind Band & at the door. Memorial concert for Anne-Marie Purvis, who was a member of both ensembles. All proceeds to Tiny Lives Trust.
Fri 01: Louis Louis Louis @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.

Sat 02: Midnite Follies Orchestra @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £20.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. All-star line-up.
Sat 02: Knats Masterclass & Jam II @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 1:00-3:00pm. £15.00.
Sat 02: Shannon Pearl + John Pope & John Garner @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00. + £1.50. bf. ‘Witch-pop’ + Pope & Garner.
Sat 02: Knats + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sat 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 03: Chilcott Jazz Mass @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 9:30am. Free. Sung communion with Parish Choir (featuring Bob Chilcott’s music). A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sun 03: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 03: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Mark Toomey (alto sax).
Sun 03: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: Tom Waits for No Man @ Oxygenic, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm (2:30pm doors). Neckties and Boxing Gloves album launch. £14.00 (gig & a CD); £8.00 (gig only).
Sun 03: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 03: John Pope & John Garner @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.

Mon 04: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Pete Tanton’s Cuban Heels @ The Library, South Parade, Whitley Bay. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 05: Leah Kirk (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 2:30pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jenny Baker (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 4:20pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Tue 05: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Thursday, December 14, 2023

The Bold Big Band @ Cluny 2 - Dec. 13

(© Russell)
Pippa Morgan, Max Storey, Crissi Booth, Lucy McCartan, Brian Wicks (reeds); Alex Utting, Bertie Marks, Fiona Duxbury, Conor Emery (trombones); Billy Bradshaw, Sam Armstrong, Abi Brierly, Andrew Marshall (trumpets); Ben Davies (guitar); Alex Ngeyu (keyboards); Ifede Osiyemi (bass); Dan Arenstein (drums); Conor Polley (vocals) + Jacob Lightfoot (alto sax)

The Bold Big Band has come a long way in a relatively short time. First heard pre-pandemic at the now closed Dun Cow pub in the Jesmond suburb of Newcastle, bandleader Brian Wicks is moulding the student/alumni outfit into a force to be reckoned with. Perhaps following the example of one or two local bandleaders of some renown, it was abundantly clear the band's baritone anchor wasn't about to leave anything to chance. Advertised as an eight o'clock start, Wicks' eighteen piece outfit was ready to go, bang on time.

(© Patti)
Deck the Halls (it's the time of year) opened the show with tenor saxophonist Crissi Booth first to her feet. A solid start, make that an impressive start, Cluny 2's audience a whoopin' and a hollerin'. From here on in Wicks delivered a series of terrible jokes ('terrible' in the very best seasonal tradition!), all of which elicited groans from audience and band alike. Norwegian Wood a la Buddy Rich (Alex Utting and Pippa Morgan soloing) brought a confession, Wicks hadn't been aware it was a Beatles number! Don't worry, Brian, it's a generational thing...Vocalist Conor Polley, nerves of steel, pinned 'em to the back wall singing Eye of the Tiger. Impressive. Ain't That a Kick in the Head? sang Polley. Again, impressive. A rip-roaring Why Not? concluded a fine first set.   

Moondance is seemingly in the pad of many a big band and it's in the Bold Big Band's book. Polley sang it, then on to some Gordon Goodwin. T.O.P Adjacent is a real tear up as performed by the Big Phat Band. The Bold Big Band went for it and scored big time (soloists Bertie Marks, trombone, Crissi Booth, tenor, Ben Davies, guitar, and a tremendous rhythm section). Pianist Alex Ngeyu and Crissi Booth featured on a swinging Basie - Straight Ahead. More straight ahead material with String of Pearls (Pippa Morgan featured), Still Alive shone the spotlight on trumpeter Abi Brierly, one of several fine contributions from a powerhouse section comprising hot shots Sam Armstrong, Billy Bradshaw and Andrew Marshall.  

Carol of Bells (it's the time of year) then, to close, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer featuring once more the hugely impressive Sam Armstrong. The Bold Big Band is a tight, swinging, not to mention entertaining outfit. Keep an eye on the listings, next time be sure to go and hear the Bold Big Band. Russell     

Set list: Deck the Halls; Norwegian Wood; Minuano (Six Eight); White Christmas; But Beautiful; Eye of the Tiger; Ain't That a Kick in the Head?; Why Not; Moondance; T.O.P. Adjacent; Jingle Jangle Jungle; Basie - Straight Ahead; String of Pearls; Still Alive; Carol of the Bells; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.   
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