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

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.

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

The Just Friends Black Swan jam session - July 16

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Conor Emery (trombone); Kate O'Niell (vocals); Edgar Bell (cornet); Dan Potter (drums); Liam Oliver (guitar); John Rowland (tenor sax); Daisy (vocals); Esther Coombes (clarinet, alto sax); Lisa (vocals); Theo Nolan (drums); Ian Drever (vocals); Patrick (guitar); Ian White (tenor sax); David Gray (trombone, trumpet); Remy Coulthard Boardman (vocals) 

The rain hammered down. What's new? Turning into the courtyard of Newcastle Arts Centre, pools of water stood everywhere. Splish! Splash! No one but no one would venture out tonight, would they? Mine host, Kay, took pity on the bedraggled, opening the doors half an hour before the advertised time. 

Descending the stairs - squelch, squelch - it became apparent the roof was leaking! Strategically placed kitchen roll in front of the house Gretsch kit soaked up the constant drip, drip, drip of rainwater. Summertime? Ha! Mad dogs or jazz fans, foolishly or otherwise, the regulars and more than a few newbies braved the elements. The house trio - the irrepressible Alan Law, piano, jam session MC, Paul Grainger, bass, and award-winning drummer Abbie Finn - opened up with Who Can I Turn to? The Anthony Newley-Leslie Bricusse number proved to be a welcome departure from the usual jam session fayre.

The Black Swan jam session is, if nothing else, a friendly affair. MC Grainger invited the first of the evening's hopefuls to join the trio, tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble. When HK is around it's time to straighten up and listen. I Could Write a Book - excellent. Responding to the call: Conor Emery to the main deck*, recent graduate student musician Conor Emery, cradling his trombone, skirted around the sodden patch on the basement's tiled floor. The Sidewinder upped the ante, HK and CE tearing into the Lee Morgan classic. Just Friends summed up what the Black Swan is all about - the rhythm section cooking, the front line knocking out first rate solos. 

Accompanied by Edgar Bell's distinctive cornet sound and Liam Oliver's excellent guitar playing, Kate O'Niell sang Stormy Weather. John Rowland called Blues Walk - good choice! Excellent contributions from JR, Liam Oliver and the rhythm section powered along Blakey-style by Abbie Finn. Daisy sang Cry Me a River with Esther 'Excellent Attendance' Coombes on clarinet. Lisa handed out charts to the house trio, choosing to sing a heart-wrenching Misty. 

A changing of the guard found Theo Nolan behind the traps and Patrick playing guitar. The two tenors of John Rowland and Ian White (Esther on alto sax) went round and round with Watermelon Man. In recent weeks Patrick has got the hang of this jam session thing, as for Ian White, our tenor man is a welcome presence anytime. Dat Dere a great choice with more of the propulsive Blakey drive courtesy of A. Finn. 

Ian Drever reprised a Foggy Day (Alan Law expertly charting a course out of the pea-souper), then, before we knew it, the Good Ship Black Swan was in open water. Remi CB (that's Remi Coulthard Boardman) rocked up to sing, really sing, Etta James' classic I Just Want to Make Love to You with bar-walking tenor from H. Keeble. Superb! As the Good Ship Black Swan sailed into the sunset, all hands were summoned to blow on Impressions. It had been yet another canny night down on Westgate Road. The next one (Tuesday August 6, 7:30pm sharp) is sure to be every bit as good.          
                  
 * Conor Emery is soon to embark on the trip of a lifetime. Our affable, excellent trombonist has landed himself a proper job and a plum one at that. From Newcastle University to a sunshine cruise ship engagement. From all at the Black Swan jam session - Good luck and bon voyage!         
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