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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17838 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 159of them this year alone and, so far, 6 this month (March 3).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club.

Tues 11: Solea @ Earthlings, the Healing Café, 94 Buckingham St., Newcastle, NE4 5QR. 7:00-8:45pm. Food available if ordered before 6:30pm. New band: Johannes Dalhuijsen (tenor sax, bass clarinet); Richard Herdman (guitar); Nick Bagnall (bass guitar); John Hirst (drums).
Tue 11: Giles Strong Quartet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: The Exu + Matt Cliffe @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 13: Oh La La! @ Allendale Village Hall, Northumberland. 7:30pm. £12.00.; £6.00. child. Fifi La Mer (accordion, vocals), Oliver Wilby (reeds).
Thu 13: Fiona Finden’s Jazz Express @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 14: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Taylor @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00-2:00pm. £5.00. at the door. Second Friday in the month lunchtime concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Brass Funkeys + Dilutey Juice @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Oh La La! @ Edmundbyers Village Hall, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. £12.00.; £10.00. (additional £5.00. supper option, ordered in advance). Fifi La Mer (accordion, vocals), Oliver Wilby (reeds).
Fri 14: The Collective @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £8.50.
Fri 14: Bridget Metcalfe Quintet @ St George’s Venue, Park Road, Hartlepool. 7:30pm.

Sat 15: Hot Teapots @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 15: Creakin’ Bones @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: Is This Jazz? @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk. Performances by Mu Quintet, Jinjé, A Brief Utopia, John Pope & Co + André Marmot (author of Unapologetic Expression: The Inside Story of the UK Jazz Explosion) in conversation + DJ sets ‘til 3:00am. ‘A Festival of New Jazz’.
Sat 15: Vintage Explosion @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 15: Alligator Gumbo @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Sat 15: One Night Standards @ The White Room, Stanley. 8:00pm. £8.67 (inc. bf). Note - previously advertised Salty Dogs cancelled.
Sat 15: Howlin’ Mat @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Blues guitar.

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, July 21, 2024

The Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Jazz Club Middlesbrough - July 18

Richie Emmerson (MD), Alan Thompson, Andy Devine, Barbara Fagan, Norman Scriven, (saxes); Bill Watson, Kevin Eland, Dave Harrison, Colin Moore, (trumpets); Dave Brocklesby, Neville Hartley, Thomas McDonald, Al Brown, (trombones); Dave Archbold (keys), Karen McCleave (bass), Ed Maughan (guitar); Abbie Finn (drums)

Once again this band of 17 top class musicians led by saxophonist Richie Emmerson gave a good sized and knowledgeable audience a night of varied and professionally arranged big band compositions.

In true Stan Kenton style they opened with the Lennie Niehaus arrangement of On the Street Where You Live with its full big band sound, giving the night a great start. This was followed by the Count Basie number Moten Swing with a nice tenor solo from Richie and trumpet from Bill Watson.

Another Lennie Niehaus arrangement, the ballad Laura, was beautifully played with a trumpet solo from Bill and the band playing so well together. Oliver Nelson's The Full Nelson raised the tempo with a fine intro from the trumpet section. Sammy Nestico’s arrangement of the ballad Truly featured Dave Brocklesby giving him the chance to show his fine and moving trombone skills.

I Remember Clifford was beautifully played by Bill Watson on trumpet with perfect backing from the band. In complete contrast to the two previous ballads an up tempo Buddy Rich number was played, The Rotten Kid, with great drumming from Abbie Finn and solos by Dave Brocklesby (trombone), Alan Thompson and Andy Devine (alto saxes)

From Count Basie's album Straight Ahead, the swinging Switch in Time included a nice trombone solo from Neville Hartley.

A further Count Basie number Ya Gotta Try with great tenor sax from Richie and drumming from Abbie brought the the first set to a close.

Starting the second set with Oliver Nelson's Stolen Moments showed the great dynamics of the band with this driving minor blues and solos from Bill Watson (flugel), and Alan Thompson and Andy Devine (alto saxes). Bill Holman's arrangement of Speak Low was followed by one of the highlights of the night - the Victor Lopez arrangement of Chick Corea's Spain with a great rhythm  set up by Karen McCleave (bass), Abbie Finn (drums) plus excellent solos on piano from Dave and guitar  from Ed Maughan. Alan Thompson's fine alto sax playing was then featured on Pat Metheny's Always and Forever before WC Handy's classic St Louis Blues was given the big band treatment. Richie was then featured on the beautiful ballad What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?

Frank Mantooth's arrangement of Undecided had some very skilful and tricky trumpet work from Bill Watson and a nice alto solo from Alan Thompson.

The final number of the night was supposed to be Trevor Vincent's lovely ballad Midnight Oil but much to the relief of the audience an encore was forthcoming with the up tempo Sammy Nestico arrangement of Wind Machine including Dave's nice piano intro, solos by Norman Scriven on baritone, Richie on tenor sax and Abbie on drums made for a great ending.

This was a highly successful night of big band music with an appreciative audience. Thanks go out to the professionalism of all the band members and leader saxophonist/raconteur Richie Emmerson.

The usual thanks of course go to the staff of Dorman’s Club for their help and support in running the jazz night. Ron Hampton

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