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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.
Tue 18: Phil Bancroft’s Beautiful Storm @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20 & £11.00.. A JNE-Gem Arts co-promotion.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

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, March 04, 2025

Knats' Album Launch @ The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle – Feb. 28

George Johnson (tenor sax); Ferg Kilsby (trumpet, flugel); Tom Ford (guitar); Sandro Shargorodsky (keyboards); Stan Woodward (bass); King David Ike-Elechi (drums) feat. Just-B (vocals); Dylan Orba (trombone)

Knats marked their debut album launch with an epic homecoming at a packed Lubber Fiend and it was only right that they chose Newcastle where it all started back in 2021 at Nunsmoor Park, the Globe and Hoochie Coochie.  The Lubber Fiend is somewhat smaller and - how shall I put it? - rough and ready, compared to their most recent gigs at Sage Two and Mandela Hall (Belfast) but the sound was excellent and it all added to the atmosphere of a rather special night.

© David Hall

The settled Knats line-up of locals Stan, King and Ferg now boasts London colleagues Sandro on keys and 2024 BBC Young Jazz Musician finalist George on tenor (does a Georgian count as an honorary Geordie?). The album featured a number of guests including the remarkable guitarist and producer Tom Ford who was tempted up north for a weekend in the Toon to play alongside the regular quintet here.  

© David Hall
With the luxury of a generous time slot and new material in addition to the album tracks, the band stretched out across a long set with variation in material and styles, plus a few surprises, which kept the attention of even the non-jazz fans in the enthusiastic crowd. And yes, although the trademark “muscular” Geordie jazz is still up front, big dollops of “restraint” were served in answer to BSH comments of old!

The album tracks were given a well-polished and tight airing with solos shared across not just the duelling horn front line, but with breathtaking Holdsworth-esque interjections from Tom Ford, sinuous synth prog-magic from Sandro, and of course the compulsory liquid bass and titanic drum breaks. As professional as the Knats show has become, it’s great to see the fresh pleasure and respect they enjoy in each other’s playing and company.

© David Hall
Variety, light and shade arrived in multiple forms, some unexpected!   Several new songs written by Stan were aired, with intriguing and ambitious new directions in arrangement and style reflecting influences from prog rock and Bartok and even a new song titled Messiaen Local rapper Just-B pulled off a brilliantly punchy rant that fitted seamlessly into the Knats groove, followed by a rumbustious trombone solo from Dylan Orba who leapt on the stage fresh from door duties! 

© David Hall

The surprise of the night however was a sung rendition of Farewell Johnny Miner by Stan, Ferg and King, reflecting Stan’s ongoing heritage journey which is evidently moving rapidly from football (new song Wor Jackie) to industrial heritage! I don’t think Bob Fox or the Unthanks need worry yet, but I suspect the crowd’s cheering will encourage further folk forays. What next? – When the Boat Comes In?

© David Hall
The most special and intense moment of the night was also the quietest. The delicate pattering of a traditional family Nigerian rhythm eventually emerged as hush spread through the crowd and swelled into the song Adaeze.  You could hear a pin drop as the sweetest gospel-tinged sax line blossomed into a heart-rending elegy for King’s late sister.  Heaven knows how the band held themselves together for this performance, but by my reckoning this quietest of songs had the loudest applause of the night.  

Quite a night all round. The band will tour the album 22-25 April.  

Album “Knats” available as vinyl LP (standard as well as Dinked Edition transparent yellow limited edition) and CD at Gearbox Records (https://store.gearboxrecords.com/collections/vinyl/products/knats-knats-lp). Available on streaming platforms at end of March. Chris K

3 comments :

Chris Kilsby said...

The fab gig photos were kindly provided by David Hall (https://www.instagram.com/nostalgia_kid/) who has been capturing the essence of Knats and other local musicians (and Newcastle culture more widely) for many years as part of https://www.instagram.com/thenewcastleproject/
Chris K

Sylvia said...

Great review Chris….it was good to see such a variety of ages there to cheer them on…..a broad fan base!!

Lance said...

The pics are really fantastic made me think I was actually there.

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