Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Friday, January 24, 2025

Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - Jan. 24

Jeremy McMurray (keys); Neville Hartley (trombone, vocals); Jim McBriarty (alto sax, clarinet, vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor sax, clarinet); Alan Rudd (bass); Ian Stocks (drums); Olive Rudd (vocals).

The gale force winds and the resultant train and bus cancellations meant that there were, unusually, a few empty seats for Classic Swing’s regular Friday lunchtime at CCC.  However the hardy souls who did brave the weather were rewarded as usual. Kudos too to several of the musicians who travelled some distance in storm conditions.

As usual the band kicked off with their signature tune Classic Swing written  for them by former member Tommy Moran. Thereafter followed 45 mins of non stop good time music.

Olive sang Orange Colored Sky and Hard Hearted Hannah followed by Nevertheless (I'm in love with you). Neville sang Look for the Silver Lining, Jim did a rip-roaring version of Sent for  you Yesterday and then the front line strutted their stuff on Rosetta before Olive finished the first set with When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam.

Highlights of the second set included the band letting loose on Harlem Bound and Jive at Five, Jim keeping up the tempo with Dinah and Neville cooling it down with I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling.

There were two or three other tunes whose titles I didn’t catch before it was 3:00pm and time to brave storm Éowyn. A bit windy out there today but definitely worth it.

Classic Swing are at CCC every Friday from 1:00pm. Sylvia

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