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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

Tue 29: Tenderly: The Life & Times of Nat ‘King’ Cole @ Hepscott Parish Hall. 7:30pm. . £15.00., £12.00. (Early Bird advance ticket), £10.00. Off-Broadway production feat. Duane Forrest.
Tue 29: Red Kites Jazz @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller's Rest, Cockerton, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. For one week only the rehearsal night will be at the Traveller's Rest (open to the public).
Wed 30: Tenderly: The Life & Times of Nat ‘King’ Cole @ The Hearth, Horsley. 7:30pm. £15.00., £12.00. (Early Bird advance ticket), £10.00. Off-Broadway production feat. Duane Forrest.
Wed 30: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 30: New Ways of Moving in the Counterworlds + Juliana Day & Manon McCoy + Helen Anahita Wilson @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. A BBC Introducing-Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

October

Thu 01: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 01: Rivkala @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 01: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 01: Hot Club de Heaton @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 01: The Scenic Route @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 02: Alison Gill + Markrokosmos @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music (NFOJAIM).
Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Gilby & Hunter + Andy Champion @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 6:00pm. NFOJAIM.
Fri 02: Abbie Finn Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. The Abbie Finn Trio augmented by Dean Stockdale (piano).
Fri 02: Alexia Gardner Trio @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 02: Zoe Rahman Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 8:00pm. NFOJAIM. SOLD OUT!

Sat 03: New Orleans Ragtime Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. Gavin Lee & co.
Sat 03: Anemone Quartet + Jeepe Zeeburg @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. NFOJAIM.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Caravan. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Free. Excellent blues band.
Sat 03: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.50 (inc. bf). Two sets: 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. ‘Swing Band Dance Night’.
Sat 03: Olie Brice Quartet + Alexander Hawkins + Harper Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:00pm. NFOJAIM.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 04: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Heugh Battery, Hartlepool. 11:00am-12 noon & 1:00-2:00pm.
Sun 04: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 04: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Bill Watson (trumpet).
Sun 04: Sax Choir w. Rachel Musson @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Rivkala + Ceitidh Mac + Thatcher & Knowles @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. A NFOJAIM event.
Sun 04: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. RESCHEDULED from September 27.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £3.00.

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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