Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

September.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Friday, March 29, 2024

Classic Swing on Good Friday @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - March 29

Olive Rudd (vocals); Jim McBriarty (alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor sax, clarinet); David Gray (trombone); Carl Peacock (keyboards); Alan Rudd (double bass); Ian Stocks (drums)

It seems like spring has sprung. Blue skies over Tyneside, the North Sea becalmed, happy days. The Crescent Club, the club on Cullercoats bay, looked a picture, this being Easter weekend it remained to be seen if audience numbers would hold up at Classic Swing's weekly Friday residency. A pint of Whapweasel, a food order placed, let's take a seat.

As always Tommy Moran's classic Classic Swing opened the show. A couple of deps in this week - David Gray and Carl Peacock - made little or no difference, the sextet hitting the ground running. Looking around the room, it was pleasing to see many seats occupied, just like any other week. Jim McBriarty (clarinet, alto and soprano saxophones at his feet) sang the first of several numbers, Sweet Sue. The band's main vocalist, Olive Rudd, joined the boys to sing the first of her numbers for the day - Only Trust Your Heart - ably supported by the engine room boys, Messrs Peacock, Rudd and Stocks.   

An instrumental Rosetta (McBriarty, soprano sax), Satin Doll, before Olive returned to close the first set singing It's a Sin to Tell a Lie.

The interval, another pint of Whapweasel, a sheaf of raffle tickets, no fewer than eleven prizes, what's the odds? A few minutes later a scrunched up sheaf of raffle tickets told a tale.

Second set, more Classic Swing, leading off, Perdido. McBriarty, clarinet in hand, sang Strike Up the Band. Not to be left out, Olive joined the boys once more, first singing Baby Won't You Please Come Home followed by a swinging take on When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabama (that's Alabam, Ma'am) backed by McBriarty and his frontline partners Alan Marshall and a restrained David Gray. A dangerously modern Blue Bossa crept into the set list (no one seemed to mind) before the band returned to more familiar material (familiar to the Crescent Club regulars) with Mama's Gone, Goodbye (c. 1924). The three o'clock finish was fast approaching. The Best Things in Life Are Free sang Olive. Yes, perhaps they are. Russell

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