Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

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

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Viva Budvivar - Boppin' at the Chilli.

Budvivar: Stuart Findon, Fiona Littlewood (ten), Chris Finch (pno), Eddie Nickson (gtr), Jim Crinson (bs), Eric Stutt (dms), Debra Milne (vcls). ----- Take It To The Bridge: Dave Weisser (tpt/vcls), Darren Grainger (ten), Barry Ashcroft (pno), Jim Crinson (bs), Mathew ? (gtr), Eric Stutt or Ian Forbes (dms). -----
Budvivar served up another potent mix tonight. Bebop anthems; "Tunisia", "Round Midnight", "Well You Needn't". Standards; "Love Me Or Leave Me", "Beautiful Love", "There Will Never Be Another You". Blues; "Fine and Mellow" and a few more.
"Mellow" began with an atmospheric guitar blast from Eddie that said 'You want misery and pain? you got it!' This launched Debra into the role of a mistreated woman as portrayed by Billie Holiday. Meanwhile, Chris - not to be outdone - delivered some classic blues piano.
"All The Things You Are" showed the two tenors off to perfection with Stuart, who'd earlier sat in on a couple of numbers with TITTB, blowing like Dexter and Fiona staying with him â la Wardell - the girl gets better each time round. They, Budvivar, should be heard more often.
The night began with Dave and co augmented by Stuart and Mathew, a young guitarist making his Chilli debut. Mathew, I think, is one of Mark Williams' proteges and he certainly showed promise despite being armed only with an unamplified steel strung acoustic. One to watch.
Dave demonstrated 'The Stockade Shuffle" - a movement he presumably learned as a G.I. Blowingwise, he hit the spot on Bill Evans' "Perry's Scope"
Later Ian Forbes sat in for a knockout version of a Barry Ashcroft original - "Mr Rascal."
Incidentally, Jim Crinson played all three sets.
Another good one.
Lance.

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