Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Xhosa Cole: ''Monk was unapologetically himself". (Jazzwise, February 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

17755 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 76 of them this year alone and, so far, 1 this month (Feb.1).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 02: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 02: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 02: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free (donations).
Sun 02: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 02: Jive Aces @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:00pm. Sun 02: John Pope + Andy Champion + Ian Paterson @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Subterranean Explorations 1’. Three (half hour) solo bass sets.
Sun 02: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 03: Andy Watt & Dan Rogers @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance. Jazz, blues, folk etc.
Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 04: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.
Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Phillips, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.
Tue 04: Dilutey Juice + Life Aquatics Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Lewis Watson Quartet @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Latin jazz/top-rated dance bands.
Thu 06: Rose Room @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 06: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Helen Barber (vocals) & Alex Moon (piano).
Thu 06: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. Guests: Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Donna Hewitt (alto sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Graham Thompson (keys); Ron Smith (bass). 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session is now monthly, first Thursday in the month.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 07: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Old Lowlight, Clifford’s Fort, North Shields NE30 1JE. 7:00pm. £15.00. + bf. www.oldlowlight.co.uk. SOLD OUT!
Fri 07: Stuart Turner Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Jazz, blues, Americana etc.
Fri 07: Dean Stockdale Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 07: Rose Room @ Wylam Institute. 8:00pm. £19.67.
Fri 07: John Rowland Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, November 24, 2024

The Paul Skerritt Big Band @ the Westovian Theatre, South Shields - Nov. 23

© Patti
Paul Skerritt (vocals); Dan Johnson, Sue Ferris, Kim Skerritt, Josh Bentham, Niall Armstrong (reeds); Toby Donnelly, Dave Hignett, Graham Hardy, Sam Armstrong (trumpets); Kieran Parnaby, Jason Holcomb, Alex Utting, Chris Gray (trombones); Jeremy McMurray (keys); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums); Stuart Fowler (MD)

The last week or so has been a good one for lovers of the vocal art. From the subtle sensivity of Nicola Farnon and her excellent bass playing at the Lit & Phil, the full-on, in your face approach of Liane Carroll and her excellent piano playing at the Globe, to last night's show by the King of the Swingers Paul Skerritt and his excellent big band at South Shields' Westovian Theatre, it had been quite a week and a bit.

© Patti
The Westovian, a cosy, comfortable theatre down near the sea front was at 99.9%  capacity which means that an audience of close on 250 fans, young and old, were treated to an evening of ballads and belters from the good old GASbook as well as a couple of contemporary pops jazzified à la Postmodern Jukebox.

Sinatra, Darin, Bennett, Wonder, Slade and many others were given the Skerritt treatment which means impeccable pitching, phrasing and breath control - the whole nine yards.

Ably supported by 17 local killer instrumentalists under the direction of Stuart Fowler the band handled the vocal charts with apparent ease as well as opening both sets with an instrumental. I didn't recognise the first but the second one bore  a passing resemblance to the Isle of Capri. They both swung like the proverbial. 

Sleigh Ride had a seasonal vocal as well as a no holds barred tenor joust between Sue Ferris and Josh Bentham which would have connected better with the audience if they'd stood up.

A great night. Lance

Say Hello; Hooray For Love; On the Street Where You Live; Sleigh Ride; Please be Kind; American Beauty Rose; Georgia on my Mind; Goody Goody; Eye of the Tiger; I Get a Kick Out of You; Didn't We?; The More I See You; Hello Young Lovers; Hard Hearted Hannah; For Once in my Life; Night and Day; Merry Christmas Everybody; Artificial Flowers; Orange Colored Sky; Minnie the Moocher; Bourbon St. Parade; Thats All

No comments :

Blog Archive