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Bebop Spoken There

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Postage

16287 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 169 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (Mar 18).

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Farewell Ray Chester


One of the north east's most respected musicians passed away this morning surrounded by his devoted family.
Ray Chester was a renowned north east band-leader  trombonist, trumpet player, pianist, educator and arranger. As a leader his band won several prestigious awards whilst as a player he enhanced many bands with his smooth trombone playing. I last met him at the funeral of his frequent musical collaborator Stan Coates. Wheelchair bound he looked vulnerable and frail but still managed to chat with those he knew - which meant everyone.
Will be much missed.
Website.
Funeral details to follow. Thanks to Mia Webb for passing on the sad news.
Lance.
PS: I came across this report from 2002 of Ray's success in the BBC's Big Band Competition.

10 comments :

Steve Andrews said...

A lovely man and a great musician. He will be much missed.

Anonymous said...

Very sad to hear this. Ray was a lovely man.
He brought his superb big band to Blaydon in October 2011 and everyone loved it, the way he presented it, the whole thing was a joy.
Roly

Anne DeVere said...

Very sad to hear this. I phoned Ray about 6 weeks ago and he sounded good but I was concerned when he told me he was having carers in 3 times per day and to help him to bed. I had known Ray for a long time as well as his wife Joan, who was an amazing woman and very supportive of Ray in his musical career.
She worked full time so that he could go to College full time to obtain his qualifications. He was an excellent arranger--probably his best talent! He provided years of work for local musos as well as vocalists including myself. He had a lovely family who will be extremely distressed--they looked after him as much as possible.
He had a problem with 'clumsiness' which was well known--on one gig he (1) knocked over my drink (2) knocked over his own pint all over the pad on the floor (3) the stand for the keyboard which was converted from Joan's old ironing board, collapsed! and as it was Xmas and very large trees were stationed at each side of the stage, the drummer hissed at me ''for Gawds sake keep him away from the b......y trees!!
I could give you many more stories like these which have kept us entertained over the years but I was very grateful that Ray gave me work when I really needed the gigs when my son was young. He will be sorely missed--his big band was very popular and his enthusiasm and knowledge was outstanding.
Anne DeVere
P.S. Please no more we are getting scared!!

Mia Webb said...

I am in mourning. My Musical Director, Arranger, Big Band Leader and personal friend Ray Chester passed away this morning. When I got the news at 4.13 this morning I was OK but after speaking to and sending messages to the few musicians I have in my library I am feeling very teary. I cannot comprehend how his family is coping. I watched the BBC4 proms with John Williams tonight which was a repeat. First time round Ray rang me to see if I was watching it - weird really. Ray and I used to buy each other tickets for our birthdays to see various concerts at the Sage. How I will miss those "nights out". God Bless you Ray. Let perpetual light shine upon you and may you rest in peace. Your Songbird M xxx

Anonymous said...

Many thanks for all your lovely tributes to my dad.

They're very much appreciated by me and all of the family.

Ian Chester

Andy Hudson said...

Ray was a fine player, soloist and great asset to tighten up the Trombone section. On many occasions he played with the Newcastle Big Band, and his scholarly approach to precision brightened up the powerful sound of an often 4 instrument section.
I was saddened to hear of his passing. The last time I heard him play was a few years ago when we put a private little gig together at the Baltic to celebrate Sting's music award.
He was quipping, grinning and enjoying being a consumate "Team" player. My sympathies to his family.

Andy Hudson

Scott Adair said...

So very sad to hear the news about Ray,a lovely man who gave so much to the music scene here in the North East.
I spent some time talking with him last year at the Corner House after i had played in the Mike Gilbey tribute night. I thoroughly enjoyed his company and we had a good laugh going through some memories and stories from over the years.He will be missed by us all.
My sympathies to his family.

Scott Adair

Jim and Valerie McDowell said...

My wife and I were fortunate to work at Reyrolle's of Hebburn in the 1960's and got to know Ray a multi talented musician with a very pleasant personality.
Sorry to hear of his passing.
Jim and Valerie Mcdowell

Erik Strodl said...

If you would like to know more about Ray's work and leave a tribute.....his website is here...
http://51958003.gb.strato-hosting.eu/RCBB/

copy and paste this in your address bar
If you missed Ray's ceremony you can read about it too.
Our thoughts are with Ray's family at this very sad time.

Lez_D said...

Ray Chester was one of my comprehensive school teachers and I also went along to his Saturday morning music sessions in Shields. I am told my biological father was in the Ray Chester Big Band many years ago - played drums, but no contact since I was around 5. I have fond memoried of Ray and he tolerated my flute and saxaphone efforts remarkably well !

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