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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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Saturday, March 01, 2025

Book review: Paul Alex Bacon - The Mississippi Dreamboats

If you're a fan of New Orleans jazz then you will find interesting reading in this account of the life and times of the Mississippi Dreamboats and the band's co-leaders the husband and wife team of Paul  and Liz Bacon.

Their dedication to the music they have devoted their lives to over the years is well documented depicting their undiminished enthusiasm in an ever-decreasing world of jazz clubs and musicians au fait with the music.

With Paul playing drums and Liz on clarinet they formed the Mississippi Dreamboats in 1975 gigging around the Newcastle jazz clubs and, as they became established, further afield. The eponymously titled book, Paul Bacon's fifth*, relates many anecdotes of life on the road and the frequent hazards of the seemingly simple task of getting from A to B. The author describes the book as being about his wanderlust, meandering journey, playing jazz and discovering that the journey is often as important as the destination.

Although now 82, that wanderlust continues. In 2024,in the period July 20 to July 27, they gigged in Louth, Chesterfield, Leeds, Carlisle, Ayr and Newcastle. The latter gig was at the Prohibition Bar and reviewed by myself on BSH. The review is included (p41).

More touring this year (2025). In May they go from Carlisle to Colchester via Ayr, Chesterfield, Wivey and Watford whilst in July it's Leeds, Amersham, Cossington and Bigbury Kingbridge. 

Many a much younger band would think twice about covering such distances but Paul and Liz Bacon, along with trombonist Jim Blenkin, Sarah Thatcher (banjo/guitar), Mike Kennedy on bass and other additions including daughter Emily Bacon on piano and vocals take it in their stride. Emily also has her own band, Emily Bacon's Good Time Gang.

It's written in an engaging style with the author's love of the music and the peripheral events surrounding the band's performances, like Paul and Liz's love for each other, shining through. Lance

Available on Amazon (hardback £12.96, paperback £8.96, Kindle £2.50).

*Previous books by Paul Alex Bacon: Heads Turned by Jazz; Once Upon Eternity; Becoming 80; Self Publish Your Book. Details on Facebook.

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Wow thank you Lance for you excellent review. You are indeed an encourager. Indeed to our jazz world. Together with many like minded we keep the jazz music live.

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