Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise 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

18878 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 742 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 4.) 21.

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

September.

Mon 07: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 07: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 08: Seijiro Murayama & Jean-Luc Guionnet @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Warwick St., Newcastle, NE2 1BB. 7.00pm. £10.00 (advance); £12.00 (on door); £.15.00 (solidarity).
Tue 08: SH#RP Collective @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 08: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Hartlepool Cricket Club. 7:30pm. £7.00.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 09: NONUNONU @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE. Excellent trio.

Thu 10: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 10: Jacenaite All Crew @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 10: Emma Rawicz INKYRA @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.30. Sage Two. Line-up: Emma Rawicz (sax); Scottie Thompson (piano, keyboards, synth); David Preston (guitar); Kevin Glasgow (bass guitar); Jack Thomas (drums).

Fri 11: Esther Bennett @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £10.00. Esther Bennett (vocals); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass).
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Friday, April 11, 2025

Magpies of Swing @ the Globe - April 10

© Sheila H
Neil Hopper (drums, valve trombone); Nigel Robson (trombone); Lara Hopper, Polly Corbishley (trumpet); Lachlan Fotheringham (clarinet, soprano sax); Gill Bisdee (clarinet); Aleksandra Karpiuk (flute, vocal); Rachel Richman (alto sax); Fiona Finden (tenor sax, vocal); Stu Finden (baritone sax); Alex J. Gamble (guitar, banjo, vocal); Owen Jones (bass); Jordan Barnes (piano); Elise Rana (drums, vocal); Kate Stebbing, Darius Oraree (vocals)

The conventicle of magpies assembled both on and off stage - such were their numbers. Their supporters were out in force, the intention being to put some currency into the coffers to help fund the  repairs to the Globe's upper room. A worthy cause.

© Sylvia T
Stomping off with Fats Waller's Yacht Club Swing the floor was soon awash with bodies out-shimmying sister Kate. Sister Kate herself, Kate Stebbing, sang In a Mellow Tone and I'm Beginning to See the Light. Kate has a pleasing babyish voice that brings to mind Ruth Etting, Annette Hanshaw and bathtub gin.

Lachlan blew Petite Fleur on soprano getting an authentic sound that was somewhere between  Bechet's original and Monty Sunshine's later recording with the Barber band. 

© Sylvia T
Neil moved behind the kit and Elise took centre stage for Just Because You Can. Along with the vocal, solos from guitar, flute and trumpet impressed. Elise hung around for Blue Drag which had solos by Nigel and the three saxes.

Aleksandra played and sang It's Only a Paper Moon, her Polish accent adding that little bit of extra charm to the voice as did her fluting which was quite delightful.

The set closed with C Jam Blues which segued into The Hucklebuck. There were solos-a-plenty with guitar, alto, trombone, tenor and baritone to the fore.

The 'Mischief of Magpies' were rounded up for the second set and they took flight with a Lucky Millinder number that I didn't recognise but which had a vague suggestion of Tuxedo Junction about it. Baritone and trombone soloed.

Time to gamble on Alec Gamble doing the business and he did just that with The Ghost of the St. Louis Blues and Russian Lullaby.

Kate returned for Sugar and Sunday. The former having a fine solo from Lara, living up to the glowing reports I'd heard from elsewhere. In September she heads down south to Trinity Laban - watch this space...

A new kid on the block, one Darius, who'd just returned from New Orleans where he'd learned of the many facets contributing to the birth of jazz (or jass) in that fair city. He sang Dinah in a pleasant baritone - a welcome addition to the scene.

The evening drew to a close with a spirited rendering of Jive at Five followed by Fiona singing and playing Lester Leaps In. Everyone did indeed leap in and bodies, arms, legs and goodness knows what else were flung about with reckless abandon. I was exhausted from just watching! Lance

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