Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18469 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 333 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 27 ) 67

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

April

Thu 30: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: International Jazz Day & JANE AGM.
Thu 30: Duke Junction @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Nadim Teimoori (tenor sax); Jeff Hewer (guitar); Martin Longhawn (organ); Steve Hanley (drums). An International Jazz Day event & the 12th anniversary of Newcastle Jazz Co-op acquiring the Globe!

May

Fri 01: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 01: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 01: Bede Wind Band + East Coast Swing Band @ Cullercoats Methodist Church. 7:30pm. £10.00. Tickets from: www.ticketsource.com, members of Bede Wind Band & at the door. Memorial concert for Anne-Marie Purvis, who was a member of both ensembles. All proceeds to Tiny Lives Trust.
Fri 01: Louis Louis Louis @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.

Sat 02: Midnite Follies Orchestra @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £20.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. All-star line-up.
Sat 02: Knats Masterclass & Jam II @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 1:00-3:00pm. £15.00.
Sat 02: Shannon Pearl + John Pope & John Garner @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00. + £1.50. bf. ‘Witch-pop’ + Pope & Garner.
Sat 02: Knats + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sat 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 03: Chilcott Jazz Mass @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 9:30am. Free. Sung communion with Parish Choir (featuring Bob Chilcott’s music). A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sun 03: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 03: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Mark Toomey (alto sax).
Sun 03: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: Tom Waits for No Man @ Oxygenic, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm (2:30pm doors). Neckties and Boxing Gloves album launch. £14.00 (gig & a CD); £8.00 (gig only).
Sun 03: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 03: John Pope & John Garner @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.

Mon 04: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Pete Tanton’s Cuban Heels @ The Library, South Parade, Whitley Bay. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 05: Leah Kirk (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 2:30pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jenny Baker (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 4:20pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Tue 05: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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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