Folk meets Jazz @ The Globe: Thursday June 4

(Review by Ann Alex/Photos by Liza Robson).
The Jazz Co-op’s third venture into a jazz and folk evening was rather surreal but very enjoyable. Much of the evening was in fact enhanced by the presence of singer/songwriters – 6 or so such people came after their songwriting class at Newcastle College.  The songs were of a high standard, mostly sad songs of lost love, so thank you Liza, Joanne, and Sandy Comet and The Winklepickers.

Pardon me boy, is this the Jazz 'n' Real Ale Train?

Yes! It's the first Jazz 'n' Real Ale Train of 2015 this Wednesday afternoon (10 June). 

20's Jazz by The Vieux Carré Hot 4 and Real Ale Bar courtesy of High House Farm Brewery. Music will commence immediately after departure from NEWCASTLE CENTRAL STATION - Real Ale bar opens on arrival at Hexham Station.

The jazz train is the 12.22pm NEWCASTLE to CARLISLE service calling at Metro Centre; Blaydon; Wylam; Prudhoe; Stocksfield; Riding Mill; Corbridge; Hexham; Haydon Bridge; Bardon Mill; Haltwhisle; Brampton; Wetheral; CARLISLE (departs 2.36pm). 

Durham University Big Band @ the Globe Jazz Bar, Newcastle.

(Review by Lance/photo by Dave Parker)

Woody Herman's Apple Honey got the show on the road - it was 7pm, The advertised 6pm turned out to be doors. Nobody seemed to know in advance what time the actual gig would kick off. The band didn't, the Jazz Coop members didn't and neither did the audience, the majority of whom had arrived circa 6pm! Nevertheless, Apple Honey is a guaranteed icebreaker and when DUBB hit the deck running all thoughts of lynching the Coop PR team vanished!

Ashington Jazz Festival - Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Ashington YMCA June 6.

The final event celebrating thirty years of the Ashington Jazz Club took place at the refurbished Y.M.C.A. with a concert by the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band.

The Band played many excellent arrangements throughout the evening and the building was definitely "Rockin' in Rhythm". An excited company responded with rapturous applause expressing their appreciation of this fine collection of north east musicians. The downside of the evening was sadly the attendance which fell far short of our expectations and gave us concerns. Having advertised and made public the event through posters, local papers, radio and internet we were unfortunately unable to draw in the number of customers which this venue and this Band deserved.

CD Review: Maria Schneider Orchestra – The Thompson Fields.

(Review by David Brownlow).

The Thompson Fields is Maria Schneider’s eighth production for the  ArtistShare label and she has certainly come a long way in her career since she worked as Gil Evans’ Assistant in the mid 80s. She is an extremely talented composer who is a master of harmony, and a formidable arranger who fully utilises all the tone - colours provided by her nineteen piece Big Band with all the usual Reeds, Brass, and Rhythm sections but without recourse to electronic instruments as Gil himself did in his latter years.

Paul Edis Trio @ The Jazz Café. June 5

Paul Edis (piano), Mick Shoulder (double bass) & Adam Sinclair (drums)

(Review by Russell)

The late Chris Yates told the story of the time he visited a New York bar/restaurant to hear the Junior Mance Trio. The musicians almost outnumbered the customers. There will be others with similar tales. Last night’s Paul Edis Trio gig at the Jazz Café, Pink Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne can be added to the list of top class musicians performing brilliantly to an all but non-existent audience.

Back to Bataan - Joe Bataan Band @ Hoochie Coochie - June 5

Joe Bataan (vcl/keys); Chris Frank (gtr); Justin Latino (alt/ten); Reuben Fowler (tpt) Mark Patto (keys); Andres Castellanos (bs gtr); Alex Reeves (dms); Andy Davie (perc); Yvonne (vcl/perc).

(Review by Lance).

Some bands build up to a peak whilst others start at the top and stay there - the Joe Bataan Band belonged to the latter category. They hit the deck running and the packed room was dancing after about 4 bars!

A contribution by Hoochie to the !Vamos! Festival, this was one of those adrenalin pumping nights that raises your pulse rate into astronomic figures and takes about 3 days to return to normal.

Durham University Big Band Medium sized Summer Tour

Durham University Big Band kickstart their aptly named Medium Sized Summer Tour with gigs in Durham and Newcastle this weekend.  Performing their unique repertoire which includes everything from Basie to Wheeler, Floating Points Ensemble to student compostions, this is your last chance to catch them locally  before they end their tour and their year at Matt and Phreds in Manchester next Friday.  The band has had a fantastic year performing at Pizza Express, Soho and hosting workshops with Pete Churchill, as well as running the inaugural Durham Distillery Composition Prize.  

Saturday 6th June - Dunelm House, 8pm.  Free Entry

Sunday 7th June - The Globe, Newcastle, doors @ 6pm.  £7.

Ashington Jazz Festival: Paul Skerritt Band.

Paul Skerritt (vcl); James Harrison (keys); John Pope (bs); Tom Chapman (dms).

(Review by Lance).

The forecast said "Hot" so it was on with the shades and off with the sweater. What they didn't mention was the bitter cold breeze that swept down Ashington's Station Rd for this open air, Ashington Jazz Festival gig.

Nevertheless, fortune shines on the brave and the Scope charity shop  was having a closing down sale - everything £1.

One warm sweater later I was ready - best £1 I've ever spent, particularly as the Paul Skerritt Band were thrown in free - sale of the century!

Despite the inclement weather and the acoustical vagaries associated with open air gigs, it was a cracking afternoon.

Happy Birthday Kath!

According to Facebook, who know everything about everybody, today is BSH's [occasional] correspondent Kath Jobes' birthday. Many Happy Returns Kath.
Lance.