Rosie's getting a facelift - No jazz this week.

Rosie Malone's, the Thursday lunchtime home of the Maine Street Jazzmen, will be closed this Thursday (Jan. 12) for re-decoration. In consequence there will be no jazz at the popular South Shields watering hole tomorrow.

The pub re-opens on Saturday Jan. 14 and the band will be back next Thursday (Jan. 19) in the opulent new setting.

Lance.

New Brunswick Battle of the Blues

The line-up for the 4 regional heats of New Brunswick Battle of the Blues has been announced and 24 unsigned and original acts will be battling it out for a place in the London final and ultimately, the chance to play on an international stage at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, New Brunswick, Canada.

The heat dates and venues are: 13th January, True Blues Club, Newton Le Willows, Merseyside, 18^th January, The Thunderbolt, Bristol, 19th January, New Crawdaddy Blues Club, Billericay, Essex, 27th January, St Peter’s Social Club, Byker, Newcastle. The final will be held at The Garage, Highbury, North London, 27 March.  For more information about the heats, the competition and the province of New Brunswick, visit www.tourismnewbrunswick.co.uk

The acts competing in the regional heats are:

At the North West heat in Newton-le-Willows 13/1: Tom Attah from Shipley, Alex McKown Band from Glossop, Chris James Blues from Scotby, Carlisle, Rythmn Zoo from Shrewsbury, Cliff Brown Band from Yelvertoft, James O’Hara from Gomersal

At the South West heat in Bristol 18/1: Matt Woosey from Bristol, Victoria Klewin and the True Tones from Bristol, Thomas Ford from Plymouth,

Paint It Blue from Burton, near Bournemouth, Dan Sowerby Band from Salisbury, Park Royal Blues from NW2 in London

 At the South East heat in Billericay 19/1: Smokin Hogs from Shotley Gate, Ipswich, Liam Tarpey Band from SE5, London, Little Devils from SE14, London, Lexie Green and Danny Moore from Whittlesey nr Peterborough,

Dove and Boweevil from Oulton Broad near Lowestoft and

Cylvian and Blues Affair from Haywards Heath

 At the North East heat in Newcastle 27/1: Half Deaf Clatch from Hull, Greg Wilson and the Big Caffeine Fix from Blencow, Carlisle, Sheik Your Mojo from Washington, Sunderland, Groove-A-matics from Gateshead, Lee Bates and Billy Newton from Gateshead, How Askew from Newcastle.

Lance.

Chris Hibbard w. Paul Edis Trio @ The Cherry Tree Monday Jan. 9.

Chris Hibbard (tmb); Paul Edis (pno); Mick Shoulder (bs); Adam Sinclair (dms)

Braised Venison Croquette, Sweet Shallot Purée, Root Vegetable Terrine.

Crane Row Farm Pork Chop, Red Cabbage, Black Pudding, Apple.

Sticky Toffee Pudding w. Salt Butter Caramel. Black Sheep Bitter.

It's not often I hear a trombone fronted quartet

And rarely do I have a Venison Croquette 

So my starter tonight,
Was a double delight.

That gets the poetry out of the way, it ill becomes me to do otherwise with Messrs Edis and Son in attendance, so it's prose from this moment on.

Chris Hibbard gets a lovely, rich, dry, sound on trombone and it was heard to great advantage on Black Orpheus, Come Rain or Come Shine, Cry Me a River and Tadd Dameron's Ladybird among others.

Black Orpheus, coupled with Pork Chop and Black Pudding -  a Black Pudding like you never dreamt a Black Pudding could taste like - and given an assisted passage by a bottle of Black Sheep Ale meant that tonight Black was most definitely beautiful!

Sticky Toffee Pudding with Salt Butter Caramel - wow! My Secret Love!

All of Me had a spoof piano intro from Paul as well as a semi - Garner solo whilst Mick bowed like Slam Stewart. All good fun.

Sandu and Bags Groove swung along nicely with Adam trading fours all-round.

It wasn't a full house tonight but it was rewarding that those that were in at the start, in the main, stayed on.

Enjoyable.

Cherry Tree Photo album.

Lance.

Ronnie Scott Band at Wheatley Hill.

Alan Rudd supplied this photo of the Ronnie Scott 9 piece from circa 1952.

It was taken, I am informed, at the Embassy Ballroom, Wheatley Hill in Co. Durham. Wheatley Hill was, of course, the home town of altoist Derek Humble.

The unnamed members are Norman Stenfalt (pno); Lennie Bush (bs); Tony Crombie (dms).

Lance.


Drop Me Off At Harlem from Colin.
Ting-A-Ling from Colin.

Tonight at the Cherry Tree

The first time I visited the Cherry Tree Restaurant (9 Osborne Rd., Jesmond), over two years ago, the attraction, apart from the food, was trombonist Chris Hibbard with the Paul Edis Trio. Tonight that same line-up returns and it is an eagerly awaited event.Look forward to good food and good music from 7:30pm.

Lance.

PS: I've slipped a clue to our mystery tenor player in there!

Ruth Lambert @ The Bridge Hotel.

I'd been to the Jazz Café watching/listening to a DVD of Diana Krall Café followed by some bebop piano from Pete Gilligan with Paul Grainger on bass and Ryan on drums. Tough acts for Ruth to follow. However, as can be seen from this poetic review by Jerry Edis, follow it she did.
Lance.


Splintered
A devil moon was in the sky,

Up above The Bridge (How High?)

Got some beers, went inside –

Saw the “GASbook” open wide.

Ruth on the mic’ – Zoe on the door,

Splinter@the Bridge was back for more!

Tim, on drums, was setting the pace

Followed by Andy (Ace of Bass).

Graeme from Glasgow (well, Monkseaton)

Was blowin’ hotter than central heatin’!

Paul in “panto-rehab” mode,

Warmed the keys until they glowed!

Ruth on the mic’ – Zoe on the door,

Splinter@the Bridge was back for more!

Ruth did standards then switched over

To B-flat blues and bossanova –

Agua Beber,

Devil May Care –

East Coast / West Coast, take me there!

Ruth on the mic’ – Zoe on the door,

Splinter@the Bridge - come back for more!

Jerry.
Paul Edis and Ruth Lambert - Lush Life.

Photos.

Come in and hear the T(Ruth)

Splinter @ The Bridge Hotel returns tomorrow (Sunday Jan. 8) with the Ruth Lambert Quintet. Accompanying vocalist Ruth will be the Poet Laureate of the piano, Paul Edis, Andy Champion on bass, Tim Johnston without an 'e' on drums and Graeme Wilson on sax.

Doors 7:30pm for 8:00pm start. £5.

The Bridge Hotel is located at the north end of the High Level Bridge in the Shadow of the Keep - I know I've used that phrase before but it seemed to grab Adrian who said he may one day write a piece with that title - just add my name on the credits' list when you do.

Lance.

Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party Videos.

The Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party 2012 is, this year, on the weekend of October 26-28. The format is as of last year's highly successful event and the limited 280 tickets are already being pared down. With 32 musicians from 8 different countries it looks good. However, if you're at all hesitant, go to the Jazz Lives website and check out these clips from last year. Looks and sounds good doesn't it?
For details of this years event go to www.whitleybayjazzfest.org. 
Lance.

Gershwin @ The Proms

Not jazz, I know, but still worth a glance tonight on BBC4 - 7:30pm.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01933t2
Liz.
My Man's Gone Now actually features Jason Yarde and Gwilym Simcock so there is some jazz involved..
Lance. 

Djangologie @ Hoochie Coochie Thurs Jan 5.

Strumming and bowing, plucking spectacular,
Reinhardt's repertoire and originals inspired by the vernacular.
Fisk, Birkett, Shoulder and Strong,
Regaled and entertained an appreciative throng.

Django's stomp, the Autumn Leaf,
Nuages, Belleville and many more,
Bewitching melodies and inspired improvisations,
Were in abundance from all four.

Twirling and spinning with impressive coordination,
A young couple danced around the floor,
Hoochie Coochie played host to a wonderful evening,
And I'm sure there'll be many, many more.

Paul Edis.