Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 544 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 3) 8

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

July

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 05: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Kevin Eland (trumpet).
Sun 05: Michael Woods @ Cycle Hub, Quayside, Ouseburn. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:15-4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues guitar. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Lydia Rae Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Rae (vocals); Sam Lightwing (alto sax, tenor sax); Ben Lawrence (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 05: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 05: Storytellers Street Band @ Ouseburn Woodland, Ouseburn. 5:00-6:00pm. Free. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 05: Jambone @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:15-9:45pm. Free but ticketed.

Mon 06: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 06: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 07: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:30pm. Free.
Tue 07: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Sax on the Tyne @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £8.00. Feat. Sax on the Tyne & St George’s Community Choir.
Wed 08: Abbie Finn Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 09: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 09: 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 10: Swing Manouche @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Olly Styles & Jacob Egglestone @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 10: Archipelago @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:00pm . New album fundraiser gig.
Fri 10: King Bees @ Rebel Yell, Nelson St., Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues.

Sat 11: Spanish City Rollers @ Community Stage: Mouth of the Tyne Festival, Front Street, Tynemouth. 12 noon. Free.
Sat 11: Jazz Stage: Mouth of the Tyne Festival (o/s Tynemouth Priory), Tynemouth. Free. Vieux Carré Hot 4 (12 noon); Rendezvous Jazz (1:00pm); Castillo Nuevo Trio (2:00pm); Classic Swing (3:00pm); Abbie Finn Trio (4:00pm). Day 1/2.
Sat 11: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man + Adam Millington @ St John’s Chapel, Town Hall, Weardale DL13 1QF. 5:00pm (doors). £16.26., £10.84., £8.67., £5.42 (under 18).
Sat 11: Milne Glendinning Band @ Langley Tracks, Langley-on-Tyne. 5:30pm.
Sat 11: Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm.
Sat 11: Karberry Big Band @ Forest Hall Social Club. 7:00pm. £7.00.
Sat 11: Ray Quinn: The King of Swing @ The Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.

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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