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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.

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Wokitoki @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Tom Atkinson (drums, guitar); Sue Ferris (sax, flute); Jude Murphy (bass guitar, flute). Jazz standards, bebop, free jazz, Latin & more. Upstairs.
Sun 09: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Downstairs.
Sun 09: Zhenya Strigalev’s 2025 Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Wednesday, August 07, 2024

An August evening Black Swan jam session - August 6

Steve Glendinning (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Bailey Rudd (drums) + Luis Verde (alto sax); Robert Johnson (tenor sax); Kate O'Niell (vocals); ? (alto sax); Martin Waugh (piano); Jamie Watkins (double bass); Adam Sams (guitar); John  Rowland (tenor sax); Lachlan Fotheringham (soprano sax); Miriam McCormick (vocals); Dan Potter (drums); Lisa (vocals); Theo Nolan (drums); Shayo (vocals); Josh (piano); Liam Oliver (guitar); Becky Tuck (vocals); Remy Coulthard Boardman (vocals); Ian Drever (vocals); ? (vocals); ? (guitar); James Mainwaring (alto sax); Ellen (vocals)

August, students away sunning themselves/working a late shift somewhere, audience regulars opting for an evening in front of the box watching the Olympics, it was bound to be a quiet night down at the Black Swan. Doors at seven, it was quiet, it sure did look like being a quiet one. By the seven thirty down beat things were looking up. As the house trio - Steve Glendinning, Paul Grainger and Bailey Rudd - played a few numbers to warm up, the room began to fill up, not so much with the usual faces, rather more newcomers.

And no better way to kick-start the endless parade than with a contribution from Luis Verde. Body and Soul and Bye Bye Blackbird...Wow! Wow! Wow! Next, a newcomer, tenor saxophonist from up the Tyne Valley, Robert Johnson. A nervous, aborted All the Things You Are, then something a little more comfortable for our debutant, Sonny. Later in the evening, chatting to Robert, he said he would be back. We look forward to it. 

Kate O'Niell and Ian Drever were in the house. An impassioned Don't go to Strangers from Kate, It's the Good Life from Ian, more Mr. D than Mr. Tony Bennett. Dan Potter took a spell behind the traps, Jamie Watkins arrived (MC P. Grainger could go to the bar - hurray!) and Adam Sams played some guitar. 

It had been a long time since we heard from Lachlan Fotheringham. Playing soprano sax (accompanying Miriam McCormick), this was great stuff. If only Lachlan's work commitments allowed him to get down to the Black Swan more frequently! Lisa sang, Becky sang, Remy sang, Shayo sang Puttin' on the Ritz, Theo Nolan played drums, they were queueing up. 

And then, who's this? A familiar-looking face played some scorching alto sax. Who is this guy? At the end of the evening, chatting to our alto saxophonist, the penny dropped. Looking a few years older (it had been a few years!), wearing spectacles, two kids later, say 'Hello' to James Mainwaring! That's the thing about the Black Swan jam session, you never know who might drop by. Looking forward, next month sees the return of the students with the prospect of some  seriously talented freshers checking out the scene. The Black Swan, first and third Tuesdays in the month, it's the only place to be! Russell

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