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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

August

Mon 03: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 03: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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 Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

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