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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Calvert and the Old Fools @ Dorman's Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - Feb. 8

Sam Calvert (drums); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Andrew Meadowcroft (vocals/keys); Tony Wood (double bass).

Going by previous guest band appearances, the audience was fully expecting a night of well played, entertaining, mainly jazz standards and were certainly not disappointed. Andrew's fine vocals featured on all of the numbers striking just the right balance between vocals and instrumental work.

A Foggy Day showed from the start how tight an ensemble they were, Andrew's vocal and fine piano solo, Richie's vibrant sax along with great backing from Tony and Sam set the format for the night.

The lively Love me or Leave Me was followed by the Dorothy Fields/Jerome Kern classic The Way You Look Tonight - a number that never fails to please with Richie blending sax with Andrew's singing before playing a moving solo to finish.

After Have You Met Miss Jones?, came the popular ballad When Sunny Gets Blue with a nice bass intro from Tony before the tempo was raised again with a driving version of Is You is or is You Ain't My Baby?

An original composition by Andrew, the swinging Merry Go Round, preceded the
Bobby Darin version of More, probably played for the first time at Dorman's.

That Ole Devil Called Love was followed by Nat King Cole's version of Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter which were played before The Norah Jones version of Don't Know Why brought the first set to a close.

Starting the second set with the Tom Waits' New Coat Of Paint, which had a dramatic feel to it included a nice bass solo from Tony.

Sacha Distel's The Good Life was followed by Night And Day, Fly me to the Moon and Donald Fagen's Walk Between the Raindrops.

After the love song I Only Have Eyes For You, This Could be the Start of Something Big had the band really swinging with Sam showing his fine drumming skills.

The lovely ballad sensitively sung and played I Can't Remember Love taken from the Queen's Gambit (Netflix) was due to finish the night but after a request from the audience for Billy Joel's New York State Of Mind the band duly obliged.

It was a pleasure to listen to this band on such a cold winter's night and was clearly enjoyed by both themselves and the audience.

Thanks as usual go to the staff of Dorman's for their help and support with the jazz night. Ron Hampton
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