Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 2026)

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18504 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 368 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 7 ) 22

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

From This Moment On

May

Wed 13: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 13: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 13: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 13: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 13: Hey Remember This @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 14: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Philip Larkin’s Jazz Experiment.
Thu 14: Jerron Paxton @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Superb country blues.
Thu 14: Solcade @ the Bridge Hotel, Newcastle. 7:00pm. EP launch. Rivkala & co..
Thu 14: Jacob Egglestone @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Egglestone (guitar); Jamie Watkins (bass); Jack Littlewood (drums) & guests.
Thu 14: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 15: Conor Emery Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Line-up Emery (trombone); Alix Shepherd (piano); John Pope (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 15: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 15: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01 adv., £15.00 on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 15: Puppini Sisters @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!

Sat 16: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. God Bless the Child - Lady Day!. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 16: Kaberry Big Band @ the Seahorse Pub, Hillheads Rd., Whitley Bay NE23 8HR. From 7:30pm. £15.00
Sat 16: Lady Nade @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. ‘Lady Nade sings Nina Simone’.

Sun 17: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ Forum Theatre, Billingham. 7:30pm.
Sun 17: QOW Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Spike Wells, Riley Stone-Lonergan & Eddie Myer.

Mon 18: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 18: Mark Williams Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 19: GoGo Penguin + Daudi Matsiko @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £22.00 + £4.40 bf.
Tue 19: Danny Lowndes’ Hot Club @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £5.00 bf.
Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Mark Robertson (drums).

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Cheltenham Musings 1 - May 1

I trundled into Cheltenham Spa on a late running Cross Country train from Morpeth that had taken us to see Barnsley as a picturesque addition to the route. Don’t mention the points failure near Northallerton. This late arrival meant I had less than an hour to get to the DEYA Arena in the main festival site after dropping off luggage at the internationally acclaimed Clematis Guesthouse. This Steve and I managed to do with only 40 minutes to spare allowing us to enjoy the scenery on our walk.

Cheltenham is a lovely town. Originating as a spa town, (its original name is preserved in that of the two platform station with Starbucks café), it has Regency period buildings galore and a sub-Trevi fountain, (the Trevor Fountain?). There is the shop where my daughter and her husband bought their wedding rings and there is the Cheltenham Ladies College where, during Jazz Festival Week posh young ladies can go and have their ears assailed by the latest Norwegian skronk jazz. As you wander round the historical centre of town you can imagine Jane Austen setting off from Ashington to visit the best of Georgian society at the Spa (“Wor ye gannin, wor Jane?” “I’m gannin doon ta Cheltenhyam, mother, for ta tek tha watters.”)

The Chet Set @ The Globe, Newcastle - May 10

Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

The Globe was the latest stop for Pete Tanton's winning project. His subject - Chet Baker - has pulling power. This evening the award-winning Railway Street venue pulled a decent crowd. What's more, it would prove to be an attentive, listening crowd. 

But not for me...I get along without you...The more I see you...Time after time...the lyrics so very familiar, beautifully sung by bandleader Tanton. Pianist Alan Law, a man who gives the impression he is never in a hurry, invariably finds the right chord under Tanton's vocal and he did just that this evening, time after time. 

Have you voted? I have!

Only three days to go to submit your nominations for the 2026 APPJG awards.

The public  vote closes on Friday May 15 so don't procrastinate but show your support for those you favour so Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

NOMINATE HERE!

Please note the criteria for the different categories:

Jazz Album of the Year (released in 2025 by a UK band or musicians).
Services to Jazz Award (to a living person for their outstanding contribution to jazz in the UK). 
Jazz Newcomer of the Year (UK-based artist, musician or group with a debut album released in 2025).
Jazz Education Award (to an educator or project for raising the standard of jazz education in the UK).
Jazz Media Award (including broadcasters, journalists, magazines, blogs, listings, photographers and books).
Jazz Venue of the Year (including jazz clubs, venues, festivals and promoters).
Jazz Ensemble of the Year (UK-based group who impressed in 2025).
Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year (UK-based musician who impressed in 2025).
Jazz Vocalist of the Year (UK-based vocalist who impressed in 2025).

The awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG), co-chaired by Dame Chi Onwurah MP and Lord Mann.

Monday, May 11, 2026

Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley Sextet @ Moor Club, Stockport - May 10

© Jeff Pritchard
Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley (bass); Graham South (trumpet); Kyran Matthews (tenor sax); Ellie Whiteley (trombone); Rich Jones (keyboards); Johnny Hunter (drums)

As soon as I saw the line-up for this gig I knew that it would be a night to remember and that's what it turned out to be. There were many exciting moments  provided by all six members of this fantastic ensemble. All the music played tonight were originals but as the band had already done some gigs in Liverpool and Stockport  they sounded like a well rehearsed unit. One front-liner I don't recall seeing before was Ellie Whiteley and she really nailed the trombone part. I particularly liked her unison work with the double bass on some of the tunes. 

Sunday, May 10, 2026

The 58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman's Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - May 7

Kevin Eland (trumpet, flugel); Josh Bentham (tenor/soprano saxes, flute); Paul Donnelly (guitar); Dave Archbold (keys); John Daniel (bass); Jan Spencelayh (vocals); Alex Cromarty (drums/vocals).

This guest band of well known and respected local jazz musicians led by Kevin Eland gave an enthusiastic audience a night of diverse well-arranged, exciting jazz. 

Curious George from the film of the same name was a good choice to start the night. The full band intro was followed by solos all round clearly showing we were in for an evening of high quality jazz. 

A nice arrangement of Sonny Rollins' Doxy was well played before Jan then took to the stage to sing one of Ella Fitzgerald's favourite songs Angel Eyes beautifully sung with a nice piano intro from Dave and mellow solos from Josh on tenor Kevin on flugel and fine guitar work from  Paul.

The Merry Month of Miles

This year, 2026, will be remembered for many things most of which we'll probably want to forget. However, one person's name will live on long after the centennial of his birth - Miles Davis (May 26, 1926 - Sept. 28, 1991).

So not only is this his year but May is also 'his month' and celebrations are taking place world wide. Venues large and small, magazines, blogs and record companies are unlocking their vaults. I don't think even Louis, Duke, Dizzy or Bird had quite this much attention devoted to them.

To celebrate the occasion two of his most influential and iconic recordings have been remastered.

Saturday, May 09, 2026

Late Night Chicago Radio w. Denny Farrell (May 7-13)

Joey DeFrancesco: Fly me to the Moon.
Tony Bennett: I Left my Heart in San Francisco.
Joe Pass Trio: Love For Sale
Linda Ronstadt: Skylark.
Flip Phillips/Scott Hamilton: A Smooth One.
Tito Puente: Mambo Diablo.
Kenny Burrell: Satin Doll.
Johnny Hartman: To Each His Own.
Paul Desmond/Jim Hall: Polka Dots and Moonbeams.
Chet Baker: Daybreak.
Gerry Mulligan: Song for Johnny Hodges.

Jazz Time Aycliffe Radio - Sundays 6.30-8.00pm (repeated Tuesdays 8.00-9.30pm).

https://www.ayclifferadio.co.uk/listen.

Playlist 10/05/26 (repeated Tuesday 12/05/26)


Requests from Darlington New Orleans Club: Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong & His Hot Seven, Johnny Dodds and the Dixieland Jug Blowers.

What’s on/New release: Bridget Metcalfe, Freddie Benedict.

Requests: Stan Tracey, Edmund Hall, Art Pepper.

Memories: Keith Jarrett, Mary Lou Williams, Red Nichols, King Oliver & His Orchestra, JC Higginbotham, Red Garland, Gil Evans.

What’s on in the NE: Conor Emery Quartet.

Seasonal: Tina May.

Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & the Darlington area or via your smart speaker.  

Single Review: A Little Sailboat – Jay Patten and Crystal Gayle

Jay Patten (vocals, saxophone); Crystal Gayle (vocals)

Nashville-based vocalists, Jay Patten and Crystal Gayle deliver a picturesque offering of what might be categorized as “Trop-jazz” with the light and lovely, A Little Sailboat. A brief acoustic guitar and rhythm launch things before Gayle and Patten dive in. The groove here is indeed equatorial and is indescribable in the nicest way. It’s not a Getz bossa nova and it’s not crab shack Jimmy Buffett. As they paint their vivid picture, the duo simply glide over both melody and lyric with ease. It’s an involving listen.

Jeremy Sassoon @ Pizza Express, Dean Street, Soho - April 25

Jeremy Sassoon (vocals, piano); Harry Greene (guitar, saxophone); Chris Rabbit (bass); Pat Illingworth (drums)

There are nights at Dean Street where the room settles before the music even has a chance to. Low light, that gentle clink of glasses, conversations tapering off not because they’re told to, but because something in the air says it’s time.

This was one of those nights.

 

Jeremy Sassoon walked on and, almost immediately, it stopped feeling like an album launch. No grand statement, no sense of occasion being forced. Just a man, a piano, and a band in a room that seemed ready to listen. He joked that the previous night had been the rehearsal and this was the real one, but what unfolded didn’t feel rehearsed at all. It felt lived in.

 

That’s where Sassoon sits best.

 

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