Press release: BBC Proms in the North East returns in 2026 with its biggest regional programme yet, spanning Gateshead, Sunderland and Middlesbrough

BBC Proms in the North East returns from 23-25 July 2026, marking its fifth year in the region and its biggest programme to date.

• For the first time, the weekend spans three cities, with events across Gateshead, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, reflecting a growing North East‑wide music region.
• Royal Northern Sinfonia sits at the heart of the festival, leading bold cross‑genre Proms performances alongside classical, contemporary, indie, folk, jazz and choral music.
• Programme highlights include North East artists including Northumberland folk pioneers The Unthanks, and South Tyneside-born Nadine Shah, in her BBC Proms debut, alongside Royal Northern Sinfonia, a Sunderland Proms premiere by Mendelssohn, Morton Feldman’s Crippled Symmetry and a large‑scale choral gathering featuring the BBC Singers.
• Accessible ticketing, emerging artist showcases and national BBC Radio 3 broadcasts continue the Proms’ commitment to reaching new audiences locally and sharing the region’s music‑making nationally. 

Album review: Isabella Isherwood - The Sweetest Sounds (Sabrina Records)

Isabella Isherwood (piano, vocals); Mike Allemana (guitar); Joe Policastro (bass); Alejandro Salazar (drums)

Yet another new jazz singer rolls off the conveyor belt. This may be Isherwood's debut as a recording artist but, as a live performer, she is held in high respect in her native Chicago where she has been featured with that city's symphony orchestra and at the local jazz festival as well as touring extensively in Europe. Not bad for a 23 year old.

The Sweetest Sounds sees Isherwood take a choice mix of standards, vintage pops, show tunes and a well known jazz classic and, if not making them her own, borrows them with interest that is compounded with repeated listening. This isn't totally surprising as the session was produced by Champian Fulton and readers of BSH will know the high regard I have for that singer.

Mozes Rosenberg Trio @ The London Gypsy Jazz Festival, Toulouse Lautrec, London - Apr. 16

Mozes Rosenberg (guitar); Filippo Dall'Asta (guitar); Andy Crowdy (double bass) 

A first visit to Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club. From Kennington underground, little more than five minutes' walk and there it was, an unprepossessing corner site, back in the day, likely as not a south London boozer. The reason for the excursion? The London Gypsy Jazz Festival, specifically the Mozes Rosenberg Trio!

A ground floor restaurant offering French cuisine, a first floor piano bar and, on the top floor,  Toulouse Lautrec's well-appointed jazz club. All of the cabaret style tables occupied, the lights dimmed, the evening's MC introduced the great Mozes Rosenberg. Joined by Italian guitarist Filippo Dall'Asta and the UK's string bassist Andy Crowdy, Rosenberg would play for seventy five minutes. 

Riketté Genesis @ Cafe Boheme, Soho, London - Apr. 16

Riketté Genesis (vocals); George Webster (piano)

When in London it's always worth looking in on Cafe Boheme. The Old Compton Street venue presents an afternoon gig every day of the week. Nominally free admission, it costs no more than the price of a beer or a coffee. In Soho, that's a bargain! 

This Thursday afternoon we were listening to the first of two sets by vocalist Riketté Genesis and pianist George Webster. I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby for openers: bold, bright, engaging, our duo playing for themselves, the listening few and a dancing couple.

Album review: David Bowden - Unsung Songs (self released)

David Bowden (solo double bass)

I must confess that 26 minutes of solo double bass playing can be a daunting prospect even when the perp. is the award-winning Glasgow based bassist David Bowden.

A musician and composer, Bowden is a former Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year, a crucial member of Fergus McCreadie's internationally acclaimed, Mercury Prize-nominated trio as well as being a much sought after bassist in the Scottish jazz and folk scene. 

Jazz at the Lit and Phil: Russ Morgan Quartet - April 17

© Pam

Russ Morgan (drums); Harry Keeble (tenor saxophone); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass) + Zoë Gilby (guest vocalist).

If it’s the third Friday in the month, it’s Jazz at the Lit and Phil’s lunchtime concert. These concerts are sold out well in advance and almost 100 people took their seats this Friday afternoon. Quite often the musicians have travelled far and wide to get to Newcastle but today all the musicians have either studied, worked or are resident here, so they were playing to a home crowd. (Russ Morgan lived and worked in Newcastle for several years before relocating  to the Kingdom of Fife a couple of years ago from where he travelled today) Regular audience members will have seen each of them in various other combinations at these concerts over the years and in this guise as recently as March when they played the Black Bull, Blaydon.

The Jazz Cavern Latest

Below is updated information on my weekly radio show - THE JAZZ CAVERN.  My next show will be broadcast starting Monday, April 20. It will be largely new releases from Hannah Horton, Gary Topper, Malcolm MacFarlane, Eleanor Kelly and the band Five Way Split. There will also be earlier recordings from John Taylor/Stan Sulzmann and the NDR Big Band as well as the Dutch Jazz Orchestra playing rare pieces by Billy Strayhorn. There will also be a brief tribute to the late Mike Westbrook who sadly died on April 20 at the age of 90. He will be sorely missed for all that he contributed to British Jazz. 

Happy listening! Frank Griffith

www.purejazzradio.com.

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

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

Playlist 19/04/26 (repeated Tuesday 21/04/26)

Seasonal: Harry James.

Requests from Joe Steels' Bishop Auckland gig: Wynton Kelly/Wes Montgomery, Branford Marsalis, Daniel John Martin, Oscar Peterson, Charlie Byrd.

Michael Bede Dunlop introduces his new album

Requests: Tommy Dorsey, Ella Fitzgerald and the Inkspots.

New Releases: Jed Levy/Phil Robson, Javon Jackson, Madeleine Peyroux.

Tony Eales’ Best of British Big Bands: Skelton Skinner Allstars Big Band.

Request: Kurt Elling with the WDR Big Band.

Seasonal: Billie Holiday.

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

Late Night Chicago Radio w. Denny Farrell (April 16 - April 22)

Gerry Mulligan: Five Brothers.

Chet Baker: All the Things You Are.

Bud Shank: Shank's Pranks.

Ella Fitzgerald: The Man That Got Away.

Concord All Stars: Alone Together.

Jonah Jones: Tin Roof Blues.

Sarah Vaughan: Street of Dreams.

Don Elliott: Imagination.

Larry Branchetti: For Once in my life.

Stan Getz: Girl From Ipanema.

Beegie Adair: Stairway to the Stars.

LISTEN 24/7

Norman Redhead funeral details announced

The funeral of Norman Redhead who passed away on April 9 will take place on Friday May 8 12.30.

May he REST IN PEACE