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.

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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