Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18992 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 856 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 11) 35.

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

October.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Julija Jacenaite (vocals).

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: A Night of Stevie Wonder @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 4:45pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 14: A Night of Stevie Wonder @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 7:30pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
Wed 14: NW FRQNC @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.00. Selina Albright, Gianni Vancini.
Wed 14: Jacob Egglestone Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 15: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 15: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 15: Leah Kirk: A Strange Affair @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations). Leah Kirk (vocals); Alan Law (keyboards); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Thu 15: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. PJO w. guest Graham Hardy (trumpet).

Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Ancient Infinity Orchestra @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 16: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01. adv.; £15.00. on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick. 8:00pm. Free.

Sat 17: SunOrbitUs @ Culture House, Sunderland. 11:00am - 5:00pm. Closing event in a year-long piece of music. 11:00am-1:00pm Improvisation workshop w. Faye MacCalman; 2:00-5:00pm Collective Improvised Performance by Sunderland residents. SOLD OUT!
Sat 17: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 17: Martin Taylor @ Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £48.72; £43.37. Solo guitar. SOLD OUT!

Sunday, December 15, 2024

Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - Dec. 14

Michael Lamb (MD/trumpet/flugel), Dick Stacey, Billy Bradshaw, John Stone (trumpets); John Flood, Chris Kurgi-Smith, Mark Ferris, Kieran Parnaby (trombones); Keith Robinson, Steve Summers, Jamie Toms, Matthew Forster, Sue Ferris (reeds); Graham Don (keys); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Michael Whent (bass guitar); John Hirst (drums); Alice Grace (vocals) 

Editor-in-Chief LL's review of the Strictly Smokin' Big Band's first night of two at GCT captured the essence of the occasion. This second performance followed suit. A full house, a set list appealing to the committed jazz fan and the party season crowd, superb ensemble work, stellar solos from all sections of the orchestra, the whole package is a winner. 

To concur with LL, Sue Ferris playing piccolo on Sister Sadie was something special, the big band drumming of John Hirst was nothing short of outstanding and the SSBB's gem that is Alice Grace sparkled (an exceptional Lush Life). Other (on the night) thoughts...Joy to the World, Fever and Kansas City made for a fantastic opening - lots of jazz and not so much in the way of tinsel-draped singalong. That would come later. 

Soloists fired on all cylinders - the tenors Jamie Toms, Matthew Forster, the blistering altos of Steve Summers and Keith Robinson, 'bone blasts courtesy of Chris Kurgi-Smith and Kieran Parnaby, guitarist Pav combining 'all guns blazing' and 'tasteful' (no mean feat), name the soloist and they were right on it. 

Second set, Santa hats on stage, some in the audience, Santa Baby, Let it Snow, The Christmas Song, just go with the flow. So, it's almost the 'Big Day'. As a prezzie, how about two tickets (more, if you like) to the SSBB's 2025 Xmas show? Note, 'show' singular. Next year, Sunday 21 December, Michael Lamb's superb band can be found at the o2 City Hall. The SSBB will be joined by the Northern Orchestra (Bradley Creswick and strings galore) plus some TBA special guests. It's a big undertaking. Imagine a capacity audience (2000 plus) in the historic venue, you can be part of it. Book now at: www.strictly-smokin.co.uk or www.academymusicgroup.com. Russell  
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive