Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

May

Mon 25: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 26: Noel Dennis Sextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00. A Miles Davis centenary concert (Davis b. 26. 5. 1926). Noel Dennis (trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums). SOLD OUT!
Tue 26: Lagos to Longbenton @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Miles Davis & His Favourite Musicians.
Thu 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 28: Bobby Rush @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. + bf. Veteran USA bluesman.
Thu 28: Squabble @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 28: 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 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.

Sat 30: Giles Strong Quartet @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £1.50 bf.

Sun 31: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 31: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 31: Sinfonia of London: Tea Dance @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. Free. John Wilson ensemble performing on the concourse. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin & more.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 31: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 31: Ben Haskins Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Gator Dogs Brass Band @ The Spice of Life, London - Jan 15

Louise Balkwill (guitar, vocals); Mike Henry (trumpet); Graham Hughes (trombone, vocals); Tom Briers (sousaphone); Richard Pite (drums)

Arriving at Cambridge Circus before noon, the Spice of Life was already busy, begging the question: What time do they open the doors? Coffees, teas and pints on tables, coats on seats (the latter a familiar practice deployed by 'regulars' at jazz haunts throughout the land), a seat over on the far side of the room appeared to the best/only option.  

Originally billed as the George Simmonds - Louise Balkwill Quintet, the absence of co-leader Simmonds necessitated a shuffling of the pack. Step forward/get out of bed...trombonist Graham Hughes. At half past the hour MC Richard Pite introduced the afternoon's entertainment, the snappily-named Gator Dogs Brass Band.

Gator-in-Chief Louis Balkwill sat out front, guitar nestling in her lap. To her left, the depping Hughes (a fixture at the annual Classic Jazz Party up on North Tyneside), to her right, trumpeter 'Magic' Mike Henry. This afternoon's rhythm section settled in behind - Tom Briers wrestling with the plumbing (sousaphone) and genial MC Mr R Pite (another Classic Jazz Party favourite) shuffling (New Orleans-style) and swinging at the right time and in all the right places.

The Gators' set list was nothing if not varied: standards (some hoary), gospel, blues, second line shuffles (Pite impressive), each and every number, bar a couple, featuring Balkwill's vocals - bluesy, raucous, engaging, wry. 

I Ain't Gonna Give Give Nobody None' This Jelly Roll came with an 'adult content' warning. All good fun, courtesy of the 'innocent' Ms Balkwill. Jesus on the Mainline restored some much-needed righteousness...not! 

Guest Graham Hughes sang 'I wan't a pretty girl...' (I Want a Little Girl?), On the Sunny Side of the Street had 'em nodding if not rocking in their seats, all afternoon Balkwill's vocal range quite something, trumpeter Henry and Hughes appreciating one another's top class brass contributions. Tom Briers (a new name to BSH) worked like a dog (a Gator Dog), Pite nudging and cajoling the Gator outfit every step of the way. 

Mondays at the Spice of Life, 12:30pm, cash at the door. It doesn't matter who Mr P has booked to appear at the Moor Street basement venue, it's well worth a tenner, every time.

First set: When You're SmilingPennies from HeavenOver in the Glory LandStardustWhem My Dreamboat Comes Home*I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None' This Jelly RollYou Are My Sunshine.

Second set: I'll Fly AwayJesus on the Mainline (etc, a Balkwill 'gospel mashup) Let it Shine; Glory, Glory HallelujahBei Mir Bist Du SchoenI Want a Little Girl*; On the Sunny Side of the StreetI Keep Splashing Cider in My Eye**Bye Bye Blackbird; Basin Street Blues* Second Line (a Balkwill 'New Orleans mega mix'); Basin Street Blues*

All vocals Louise Balkwill except Graham Hughes.

** Not a song title, rather a quick-witted observation, shared with band and audience, as Ms Balkwill kept on splashing her beverage in her eye!  

No comments :

Blog Archive