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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

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

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

The stuff that dreams are made of ...The Maltese Jazzmen

The Maltese Falcon, the Buddy Bolden cylinder - collectable items the value of which are reputed to be beyond the dreams of avarice. Today, in a South Shields charity shop I came across a CD that whilst its value may not  be quite beyond the dreams of avarice it was certainly worth more than the 50p I paid for it - or so it seemed.

The Deuchar/Gascoigne Legacy. Celebrating 50 Years of the Vieux Carré Jazzmen looked to be 'the stuff that dreams are made of'.

It covers the first 50 years of the band's existence - 1955-2005. Radio/TV interviewer Mike Neville interviews the band's trumpet player and future leader the late Peter Gascoigne. There's also vocals by the original leader, banjoist and blues singer the late Big Pete Deuchar as well tracks featuring later members of the band including the current leader Brian Bennett. Full details in the graphic on the top left.

I drove home breaking the speed limits, jumping a few
red lights and scaring the shit out of an old lady on a zebra crossing (I made that bit up officer, honest) until the big moment arrived and, guess what?

I inserted the disc in the player and...   ...and nothing! No  sound, no nothing other than a flashing image that read 'No Disc'.

I now know how Kasper Gutman felt in The Maltese Falcon when he discovered that the bejewelled bird was a fake. I wonder if I could get my 50p back ...Lance 

4 comments :

Russell said...

You can borrow my copy.

Gordon Solomon said...

Tracks 6 to 10 are reported to have been recorded in a pub in Hawick. It was in fact in a village hall for a wedding reception, I remember it because of a funny incident. As the band were playing on a very small stage, Peter Gascoigne’s microphone stand was placed on the dance floor .Unfortunately this resulted in various dancers accidentally knocking it over. During the last number it happened again. Gassy had had enough and grabbed the culprit by the lapels and called him a stupid prat! At the end of the night the same gentleman came over to the band and we all thought trouble was imminent, however he pulled a wad of money from his pocket and said “I’m the bride’s father, who do I pay?”.

Sam Spade said...

You've got the Falcon?! Don't lend it! It should be in a steel-walled underground vault with round rhe clock armed security guards otherwise you'll have the likes of Gutman, Joel Cairo and Brigid O'Shaughnessy a.k.a. Miss Wonderly, respectively, trying to bribe you, shoot you or seduce you.

If, on the other hand, it's the VCJ CD that you possess then the security measures may be safely dispensed with.

John Hallam (on F/b) said...

I’ve never found one. I wonder whether the Copyright has expired, in which case I’m in the market ( CD or Memory stick).

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