New Venue

A new venue (formerly Blue Coyote) on Pilgrim Street opposite the old fire station is soon to open with a regular programme of jazz. Details as follows: Hoochie Coochie, 54 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6SF. Tel: 0191 222 0130

The live jazz interest is: Thursday 25 August Steve Fishwick Quartet Steve Fishwick (tpt/flg), Matt Fishwick (dms), Ross Stanley (pno) & Tom Cawley (Fender Rhodes).

Sunday 11 September James Taylor Quartet (7:00 pm). £17.50.

Saturday 8 October Brand New Heavies (7:00 pm). £30.00.

More details at www.hoochiecoochie.co.uk

Russell.

Splinter @ The Seaside - The Trojan Rooms, Whitley Bay. July 3rd - Part 3: Ex Extreme.

Ex Extreme: Stuart Collingwood (piano), Pete Tanton (flugelhorn), Mark Williams (guitar), Stuart Davies (electric bass) & Steve Wall (drums).

David Carnegie's departure cast doubt on the future of Extreme Measures. How to replace him? Why continue? Well, the alumni assembled in the Trojan Rooms with new recruit Steve Wall to give it a go as Ex Extreme.

Opening with Stuart Collingwood's familiar piece Nautical (how apt...nautical, seaside and all). Pete Tanton wrote Barbados by way of bon voyage (the nautical theme continued) to Davd Carnegie - nice one Pete. Stuart Davies, the one surviving original member from Carnegie's band brought Double Bubble to the party and it wasn't any toil or trouble to these guys. It was a jazz funk workout, energetic, fun and for guitarist Mark Williams (another one on double time) this was a case of cut loose, hang on, get out of the way, phew!!!

Collingwood's Bananas was right up Steve Wall's street. This was loud jazz fusion territory and to the drummer's credit he was himself, not in any way trying to be a clone of David Carnegie. At times the volume levels made it difficult to hear Tanton's oh so lyrical lines. Tanton deserves to be heard!

I get the impression that pianist Stuart Collingwood has a whole book of tunes he's written over the years. One of them - The Tank - from way back (1981) was a high point. It had a Blakey's Messengersfeel to it and if he's got more like this then lets hear them! A cracking set from an evolving, cracking band.

Russell.

Customs House Big Band are at the New Crown South Shields Tonight

Today being the first Tuesday in the month the Customs House Big Band along with Ruth Lambert hold their monthly open rehearsal.

Starting at 7:30pm the band rehearse and hone new numbers to perfection. After a short interval to partake of the excellent ales served in the bar the band, along with vocalist Ruth Lambert, then give a free concert. Well worth looking in on.

Lance.

Splinter @ The Seaside - The Trojan Rooms, Whitley Bay. July 3rd - Part 2: Ruth Lambert Quintet

Ruth Lambert (vocals), Graeme Wilson (tenor saxophone), Paul Edis (piano), Andy Champion (double bass) & Tim Johnston (drums) On this beautiful summer's evening there was no moon at all and Ms.Ruth Lambert reiterated the fact by singing the Redd Evans/David Mann classic No Moon At All accompanied by the superb tenor saxophone of Graeme Wilson. It was good to hear I'm Glad There is You from Lambert's first CD So Many Stars with Paul Edis' sensitive piano playing to the fore.

We know Lambert as a consummate interpreter of of the GAS book but, for a moment, she closed the book and turned to one of the great singer songwriters of this or any generation - Bonnie Raitt. The American's Love Me Like a Man was given the treatment - Lambert can certainly sing a blues. It would be good to hear one or two blues numbers in the set next time she's out and about.

A particular highlight was Beautiful Love with wonderful phrasing of the lyric and the boys in the band (including a moonlighting Andy Champion) had some fun with Juan Tizol's Caravan. A cracking set from a class act.

Russell.

Splinter @ The Seaside - The Trojan Rooms, Whitley Bay. July 3rd - Part One: The Mark Williams Trio.

Mark Williams (guitar), Andy Champion (double bass) & Richard Brown (drums).

Mark Williams stepped into the breach with a scratch trio following the withdrawl of HCW from the annual Splinter day out at the coast. The weather was perfect, Mordue's Premium Bitter was drinkable (at hotel premium prices) and Mark Williams was in scintillating form from the get go.

Williams' Cowpat was written as a tribute to Pat Metheny - if only Metheny could play like Williams! Paul Susans, the trio's regular bassist, was unavailable so it was down to Andy Champion to fill the void and he did just that and more. Teessider Richard Brown made the journey north and it was well worthwhile - it was as if he had played with these guys before. Oh, I forgot, of course he has!

The ACV classic Without Bones tore the place apart. Champion asked Brown if he was ready for it, Brown nodded and off they went. Breakneck pace doesn't describe just how kicking this number was. Minor Detail, a Williams original was anything but of minor interest. A cracking set from three first call players.

Well done Jazz Action, Splinter @ The Bridge ( at the seaside), Zoe, Andy, Claire and all involved in making it happen. Let's do it all again next year. Oh, don't forget... this coming Sunday (July 10), with buckets and spades back in the cupboard, get along to the Bridge Hotel (that's Splinter @ The Bridge), about 12 miles up river in Newcastle to hear the wonderful Paul Edis Sextet (7.30 pm, £5.00.) Russell.

PS: Parts 2 and 3 - The Ruth Lambert Quintet and Ex Extreme to follow...

No Picnic at Great Whittington This Year.

Sorry to have to tell any fans who were thinking of coming to the GREAT WHITTINGTON JAZZ PICNIC this year that it has been cancelled because of structural problems in the hall debarring access in the event of rain or for toilets.

Hopefully the problem will be sorted out for 2012. Ray Shenton.

Bright Street Big Band @ Barnes Park Sunderland

The Bright Street Big Band, bolstered by trombonists Don Fairley and Neville Hartley and trumpeter Miles Watson, were well received by a large crowd basking in the sun and the unique sound of the Band who played an assortment of Basie, Ellington and Miller numbers in their inimitable style.

Lance.

Pierre Bensusan @ The Sage, Gateshead.

Pierre Bensusan (gtr/vcl).

An incredible solo performance by a brilliant guitarist, an appealing singer and an entertaining spieler.

Hall Two was near full on two levels and the crowd enjoyed the one man show by the French/Algerian who gave a dazzling multi- genre performance.

It wasn't pure jazz although there was a strong jazz presence both in his playing and amongst those in attendance but - like Al Di Meola a few nights previous in London - this was uncategorised music.

The soulful, mellow tones of both voice and guitar reached out and grabbed - no replace 'grabbed' with 'gently wooed and cajoled' - the audience into eager submission.

A delightful gig by a superb performer.

Lance.

Info on Bill Croft wanted

Quite by chance I've just come across your cheerful and informative blog. I'm trying to track down Billy Croft who was a pal of mine way back in Hull. We used to play clarinet duets together and have lost touch. So do you have any news of him?

Tony Dugdale.

Can anyone help Tony? I remember a Bill Croft and his Blue Star Jazzmen back in the 1950s.

Is Bill Croft still around?

Lance.

Robert Walser Reading. Friday July 15. 6:00pm, Culture lab on Site Arch 5, Forth Street, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear NE1 3PJ.

Short stories by the Swiss author Robert Walser (1878-1956) read by Gabriele Heller, Claire Webster Saaremets and Tim Bennett with contemporary compositions, inspired by Walsers Work. “From an adjoining building came the esteemed 58-year old poet, accompanied by the warden. I was struck by his childlike expression, red-flushed cheeks, blue eyes, and trim, golden mustache. He was already turning gray at the temple. His well-worn collar and necktie were set somewhat crookedly, his teeth not in the best condition. When Dr. Hinrichsen wanted him to button the top button of his vest, Robert rebelled: `No! The top button must remain open!"

Carl Seelig's memoir Wanderungen with Robert Walser. There will be drinks and nibbles and an open discussion about Robert Walsers work

The above, from respected jazz singer Gabby, suggests it could be of interest.

Lance.