Press release: NEWCASTLE JAZZ FESTIVAL 2026

LINEUP

Friday 26 June

CLARK TRACEY

Clark Tracey Quartet: Suites of Stan!

Multi award winning drummer Clark Tracey pays tribute to some of the many quartet suites penned by his legendary father, Stan Tracey CBE.

Saturday 27 June

OUTRI

OUTRI is a solo bass endeavour by established North-East bass player and ‘musical magpie’ (NARC mag) Ian ‘dodge’ Paterson. This project takes inspiration from a love of jazz, folk, electronica, found-sound and cinematic landscapes combining organic shifting loops underpinned with beautiful harmonies and glitchy electronica.

Album review: Catherine Russell - Live at Lincoln Center (Dot Time Records)

Catherine Russell (vocals); Matt Munisteri (guitar); Ben Paterson (piano); Russell Hall (bass); Domo Branch (drums); Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet); John Allred (trombone); Evan Arntzen (tenor sax, clarinet) + Michela Marino Lerman (tap dance tks 2,4,9,11)

Russell's first live recording and where better to make that debut than Lincoln Center? NYC's cultural home. For this concert Russell crafted a programme honouring the Hot Club of New York, a community of enthusiasts who meet weekly to listen to jazz and blues on 78rpm shellac records. I think that's rather wonderful and, unsurprisingly so does  Catherine as no doubt her father's records (Luis Russell and his Orchestra) will often be amongst those played.

Press release: Taylor and Son.

Last night after my concert in Edinburgh, my son James and I were catching up backstage. Some of you may know that, alongside his work as my manager he is also a speaker, podcast host, and author of a new book called SuperCreativity.

One of the things I’ve always loved about jazz is that it shows creativity in its purest form. You have structure and technique… but in the moment you are also listening, experimenting and creating something new together.

James writes about this same kind of creative process in the book. In fact, there are a few stories that you might enjoy, including moments involving Stéphane Grappelli, Oscar Peterson, and the wider world of jazz and improvisation. Those stories explore how musicians think about creativity, collaboration, and the spark that happens when people play together.

The BBC Royal Charter Review your last chance to complete the public consultation

The government is consulting the public to aid decision-making on the terms for the BBC Charter’s renewal and any changes needed to help the BBC to continue to serve the public. If you value democracy with pluralistic news services plus a pluralist media landscape, it is crucial that you respond to the consultation

If you value the BBC as a vital part of democracy then please ensure you complete the survey and make sure your views are known. 

The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 10 March 2026

I have complete the survey as an email/word document response and my full response can be found here:

https://chrishodgkins.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Submission-to-the-open-consultation-on-the-BBC-Royal-Charter-Review-from-Chris-Hodgkins-.pdf

Please feel free to use any part of my submission and cut and paste at will or with reckless abandon.

Lucy Yeghiazaryan w. the Peter Beets Trio & Gideon Tazelaar @ BIMHUIS, Amsterdam - Mar. 7

Lucy Yeghiazaryan (vocals); Peter Beets (piano); Steve Zwanink (double bass); Martijn Vink (drums); Gideon Tazelaar (tenor sax)

New York-based singer Lucy Yeghiazaryan first came to the attention of BSH (and others) thanks to one of the very few plus points of lockdown - the livestream. Live from Emmet's Place (NYC) became essential late night (UK) viewing. From one week to the next, pianist Emmet Cohen would invite one A-lister after another to join him on an online gig. And that's where Lucy Yeghiazaryan comes in...       

From Schiphol Airport, train to Amsterdam Centraal Station, then a short tram journey to the BIMHUIS. Amsterdam! The Bimhuis! Lucy Yeghiazaryan! From Emmet Cohen's NYC apartment to Amsterdam's BIMHUIS, Ms Yeghiazaryan was in town! 

Album review: Paul Moran – Running on Fire

In jazz, many musicians spend years shaping the sound of other artists’ music before stepping forward to reveal their own voice. Paul Moran belongs firmly to that tradition. Yet this is not the first time Moran has stepped out from behind the bandstand and into the spotlight. His Hammond-led album Smokin’ B3 reached No. 8 in the HMV British Jazz Chart, and its follow-up Smokin’ B3 Volume Two further established him as a formidable organ player in the classic soul-jazz tradition.

For many listeners Moran is best known as the long-time musical director and keyboard player for Van Morrison, a role he has held since 2006. Yet behind that association lies a far broader musical life: composer, arranger, trumpet player and Hammond organist, with a career that stretches across television music, soul recordings and jazz projects.

Running on Fire brings those experiences together in a record that sits comfortably between jazz, soul and groove-based funk.

Rebecca Poole gig @ the Globe cancelled!

Just heard the news that next Sunday's eagerly anticipated gig at the Globe, Newcastle's iconic music venue on the corner of Railway & Plummer, by Rebecca Poole (a.k.a. Purdy) has been cancelled.

It is hoped that it will be rescheduled.

What we're MISSING!  Lance                                          

Trio JDM @ the Moor Club, Stockport - March 8

© Jeff Pritchard

Dave Walsh (drums);  Martin Longhawn  (keyboards); Jamie Taylor (guitar)

I think I may have picked a seat too near the front of the room to fully appreciate this drummer led powerhouse trio. Dave Walsh has played here many times but on this occasion he used Martin Longhawn to create a realistic Hammond organ effect which I liked.  Jamie Taylor has a flamboyant style on guitar and he showed he could handle fast tempos but he impressed me most in the second set when he played Prelude to a Kiss. 

Sunday night @ the Globe: Trish Clowes' My Iris - March 8

© Ken Drew

Trish Clowes (tenor sax); Chris Montague (guitar); Ross Stanley (Crumar Nova keys); Joel Barford (drums)

The Globe was sardine sandwiched and even after the passing trade, en route to Peter Kay at the nearby arena, had quenched their thirst and left, the room was still at near capacity for the performance by Trish Clowes' My Iris.

Four top class musicians held the audience's rapt attention. The theme for the evening was My Iris' soon to be released album Try Me. On the basis of this live performance it promises to be a must have addition to the library of those seekers of wisdom and truth.

As it stands, for me it is to date the Gig of the Year on the contemporary side of modern.

Album review: Brian Molley Quartet - Tùs/Origin (Cruthach)

Brian Molley (saxophones); Tom Gibbs (piano); David Bowden (double bass); Stephen Henderson (drums)

I don’t think I’ve personally come across Brian Molley before, even though he has been recording since 2013 and has been well-documented on this site. Gibbs would appear to be his longest standing confederate but the ones whose work I am more familiar with are Bowden and Henderson who form the rhythm section from Fergus McCreadie’s trio. Despite the fact that Molley and various iterations of his band have toured extensively across many continents, once back in the UK he seems reluctant to venture out of Scotland. One cannot dispute his musical ambition, however, and this album follows previous work with musicians from Morocco, Brazil and Rajasthan amongst others. This album is an ambitious through-composed work that aims to draw out the links between traditional Scottish music and the origins of jazz.