Paul Edis and Friends: A Jazzy Christmas @ Ushaw College – Dec. 20

(Review by Steve T/ Photos courtesy of Jerry E).

Tonight promised some changes from the set at Middlesbrough Town Hall the previous Sunday, presumably for us die-hards taking in more than one of the four shows this year.

The first came with the full ensemble on stage for the opening Winter Wonderland. Solos from trumpet, sax and violin; piano and guitar switching comping duties, as they would throughout the set; more exchanges between sax and violin during the extended fade.

Rockin' Robin You Sexy Thing

It's Christmas time with the city centre's prime Monument location taken over for the duration by a multitude of street traders elbowing one of Newcastle's long established street bands onto Nelson Street. Across the way in Central Arcade a plethora of saxophonists blew in unison as shoppers and tourists alike grabbed a photo opportunity.

Paul Miskin's Soznak did what the band usually does, stopping shoppers in their tracks with Jude Murphy on bass and vocals and the ubiquitous David Gray, trombone (minus the lederhosen - see LL's revview of King Bee), sexing up Hot Chocolate's You Sexy Thing. Meanwhile, a dozen or more reeds, collectively known as Sax on the Tyne, made full use of the acoustics in Central Arcade outside JG Windows as they tackled familiar numbers including the Jackson 5's Rockin' Robin. All together now...Rockin' Robin, rock, rock... 

Russell

Classic Swing @ Jesmond British Legion - Dec 20

Tommy Moran (tenor sax); Jim McBriarty (alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet); Kieran Parnaby (trombone); Norman Brown (piano); Alan Rudd (double bass); Tommy Graham (drums); Olive Rudd (vocals)

(Review by Russell)

it's almost Christmas, isn't it? Things tend to be a bit rushed, don’t they? And, of course, every jazz gig during December seems to be an excuse for a party and/or buffet with a few beers. All this is a preamble to your reviewer confessing he forgot to take photographs at today's Classic Swing gig! 

Five days before Christmas, the Metro system shutdown, would anyone turn out for Classic Swing's seasonal knees up? They certainly did, what's more, raffle prizes galore and a buffet weren't to be sniffed at. Two deps in today - pianist Norman Brown and, on loan from the Strictly Smokin', trombonist Kieran Parnaby. 

King Bee @ Hoochie Coochie - Dec. 19

Dave Wilde (tenor sax/baritone sax/flute/vocal); David Gray (trombone); Chris Jelly (vibes/Malletkat); Richard Burns (trumpet); Craig Stephenson (bass guitar); Steve Glendinning (guitar); Martin Douglas (drums); Brendan Murphy (percussion).

(Review by Lance)

King Bee, Hoochie Coochie & Christmas - the perfect ingredients for a party. Add a few bottles of London Pride, described in the house drinks' menu (paperback edition) as "a big favourite of jazz critics", and you're in Shangri-la.

Dressed as elves, the 8 funksters blew up their seasonal storm with a batch of  mainly originals, covers and, because it is Christmas, a carol. Every man jack of them has solid jazz credentials and it came out in the solos.

Preview: A Jazzy Christmas

This time last year at Sage Gateshead 'A Jazzy Christmas' sold out. On Saturday (Dec 21) there will be not one but two performances of the seasonal show in Sage Two at 2:00pm and 8:00pm and once again tickets have been flying out the door. All seats on Level One and Level Two have been snapped up with limited availability on Level Three. Composer, arranger and pianist Paul Edis devised the show a couple of years ago and with its all-star cast it has proven to be a big hit. Expect polished arrangements of Christmas classics, seasonal bonhomie and some terrible Christmas cracker jokes courtesy of P. Edis! Tickets from Sage Gateshead's box office 0191 443 4661. 

In addition to the Gateshead shows there will be a performance at Ushaw College, Durham tomorrow evening (Friday, Dec 20) at 7:30pm in the grand surroundings of Ushaw's Exhibition Hall. Tickets from 0191 334 5119. Please note - Sat Nav users travelling to Ushaw should use postcode DH7 7DW.    

Joining Edis on stage will be: Jo Harrop, vocals, Matt Anderson, tenor and soprano saxophones, Graham Hardy, trumpet and flugelhorn, Jason Holcomb, trombone, Emma Fisk, violin, Faye Thompson, alto saxophone and clarinet, Megan Robinson, flute and piccolo, Francis Tulip, guitar, Andy Champion, double bass and Russ Morgan, drums. 

Russell

Dance band days remembered

On the site of the old Mayfair Ballroom* stands a nondescript entertainment complex. The Gate houses a multiplex cinema, countless eateries and a dimly lit 'Spoons. Today, standing outside the glass fronted building was one of Newcastle's better buskers (see photo). The tunes were familiar - a seasonal Jingle Bells segueing into Careless Whisper - but it was the alto saxophonist's improvisational skills which, not for the first time, caught the ear. 

* The Mayfair Ballroom hosted its share of dance bands during the sixties and seventies including the renowned Don Smith band. A small plaque mounted high on an exterior wall commemorates the date Led Zeppelin performed in concert. Now, some half a century later, the Mayfair and that of another, nearby, legendary venue, are about to experience something of a revival of interest. Adjacent to the Gate on Newgate Street are two recently opened bar/restaurant ventures, one called 'The Mayfair', the other 'La Dolce Vita'.        

Russell

You show me yours and I'll show you mine!

Tell us about the big ones! Your favourite gigs and your most listened to CDs. Also, any special jazz moments that spring to mind - Zoë Gilby's APPJAG doesn't count as that is haut catégorie, as they say in cycling, - beyond classification! Zoé will look good in a jazz maillot jaune.

So, what we want are: Favourite gigs, CDs, musicians both local and international who have impressed you and those musicians you think will make an impact in 2020 or, indeed, your visions of 2020 (note that the only party name that will be allowed will be Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party - sorry Boris and A.N. Other).

Lance

PS: I'll show you mine later!

A Forum for Richie Emmerson

Tony Eales reports a good turn out at last night's monthly session at the Forum Music Centre in Darlington. Saxophonist Richie Emmerson joined the regular 'house band' Acoustic Infusion to play a set of familiar numbers to an appreciative crowd. It seems audience numbers are holding up well and gigs are scheduled through to spring next year and hopefully beyond.    

Russell

Jazz Apples, four bars in...

You know, you're just browsing in your local supermarket and, man, there they are...Jazz Apples! Yeah, sweet man, real sweet. Four bars in...three, four. 

Russell

Alice Grace Quartet @ Blaydon Jazz Club - Dec 15

Alice Grace (vocals); Mark Williams (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Rob Walker (drums)

(Review by Russell/Photo courtesy of Roly V).

It was a Christmas party tinged with sadness. The Black Bull's publican in the 1980s, Pauline Haley, died earlier in the day and it was down to Roly Veitch to break the news to an audience there to enjoy a festive occasion. Blaydon Jazz Club accepted Pauline's offer to present concerts on a regular basis, that was 36 years ago and the jazz continues to this day. It was to be an evening of seasonal jazz and memories of Pauline who was there from the beginning.

Three numbers - Take the A Train, I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, Teach Me Tonight - got things going. Down the years they've been heard many times in Blaydon and, with Alice Grace on stage singing them, the thought occurred that they will be heard many more times in the future.