Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18754 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 618 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 28) 82

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

July

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Abbie Finn Trio @ Music Dept., Durham University. 9:15pm. A Durham Fringe Festival event

Thu 30: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.50.
Thu 30: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes. .

Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Milne Glendinning Band @ Repas 7 by Night, Berwick. 8:00-9:00pm. £6.00. A Berwick Fringe Festival event. £6.00 (£6.00 wristband access to all Fringe events).

August

Sat 01: Jazz Weekend workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 9:30am. £95.00. Tutors: Nel Begley & Paul Edis: Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop. Day 1/2.
Sat 01: Jim Wright’s Rhythm Deluxe @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 01: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Saltburn Bandstand. 2:30-4:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Milne Glendinning Band @ Leonard’s Coffee House, Durham. 6:20pm. £7.00. A Durham Fringe Festival. 1/2.
Sat 01: Paul Skerritt Swing Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 8:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: The Swing Commanders @ The Amphitheatre, Stockton. 9:00-10:30pm. Free. Stockton International Riverside Festival.

Sun 02: Jazz Weekend workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 9:30am. £95.00. Tutors: Nel Begley & Paul Edis: Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop. Day 2/2.
Sun 02: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 02: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Sue Ferris.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Milne Glendinning Band @ Leonard’s Coffee House, Durham. 6:20pm. £7.00. A Durham Fringe Festival event. 2/2.
Sun 02: Nel Begley & Paul Edis @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

Mon 03: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 03: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thursday, July 16, 2026

Vieux Carré Jazzmen + guests @ the Millstone, South Gosforth - July 16

© Russell

Brian Bennett (banjo); Jim McBriarty (tenor sax, clarinet, vocals); David Gray (trombone, trumpet, vocals); Colin Aitchison (trumpet, trombone, vocals); Chris Perrin (keys) + Neville Sarony (vocals, keys); Ben Helm (guitar); Jenna Stewart (vocals)

A 6 oz medium cooked rump steak, with chips, onion rings, peas and peppercorn sauce went down well. The steak, exactly as I like it, was succulent and hadn't long stopped sizzling. The chips were neither skinny nor chunky but comfortably in between and easily digestible whilst the onion rings had a piquancy about them that hit the spot. I found the peas not as warm as I like them but that could have been because I left them till last causing them to cool off, However, overall, I can only say "Mes félicitations au chef".

© Russell
Félicitations too to the augmented Vieux Carré who, aided and assisted by their guests, blew away those World Cup blues.

Vocals abounded: Colin Aitchison sang Sweet Lorraine and Sunday: Jim McBriarty gave out with Avalon and Honky Tonk Town: David Gray crooned I'll be Seeing You and Exactly Like You whilst the up and coming Jenna Stewart (make a note of that name) made an impression with Love me or Leave me.


© Russell
However, the star of the show - and few would dispute it - was Neville Sarony. Like Colin he's on vacation from Hong Kong and, in the first set, we enjoyed: Five Foot Two (Eyes of Blue) and Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? For his second shot he took over from Chris Perrin at the keyboard and our fancy was tickled with a hilarious Alcoholic Blues as well as Bésame Mucho sung in Spanish.

© Russell
Apart from the vocals both Colin and David played trumpet and trombone, Ben Helm played nice rhythm guitar, Jimmy McB offered contrast to the brass boys with some cool tenor and agile clarinet. Chris Perrin came down from up in them there hills to slot in nicely whilst Brian Bennett - the Baron of the Banjo - chugged away in true New Orleans fashion. Check the Millstone out - the food is great and the music's not bad either! Lance

at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive