Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 2025

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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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

Friday, July 31, 2009

Marshall Walker R.I.P.

(Sunday)I've just received the very sad news that my friend and former musical colleague, drummer Marshall Walker, died on Friday July 24. Cause of death is, as yet, unknown.
More details when known.
Sadly missed.
Lance.
(Thursday)The funeral will take place at noon on Monday August 3 at Birtley Crematorium. A formal announcement will be made in tonight's (Thursday) Evening Chronicle.
Photos - I've added a few. If you have more please send them to me via Email (lanceliddle@gmail.com.)
Add your personal tributes to the comments below.

8 comments :

Roly said...

Sad news. I have very fond memories of the early years at Blaydon with Marshall, Clem, Bill Smith and best ever landlady Pauline. It's when you look back at those times you realise how special they were.
Roly

Eric.M.Stutt said...

Very sad to hear about Marshy he was a good friend and I liked him and his sense of humour a lot. He wil be sadly missed.
Eric.

Russell said...

Hi Lance

I liked Marshall's dry sense of humour, hang-dog look (Buster Keaton-like) and he could play.

Russell

John Taylor said...

Sorry to hear of the passing of Marshal Walker. A character in the same mould as Derek Dixon (another old timer who is sadly no longer with us).Both unassuming accompanists who were always there for the rest of the band.

laurie brown said...

sorry to hear this Marshall was a
frequent visitor to the Porthole
at one time!

Mike Gilby said...

Fond memories of Marshall - R.I.P. Many a laugh we shared together, another great character exits the bandstand.
Mike.

Germaine said...

So sorry to hear that yet another of the Newcastle musical gang has gone.It's many years since I met Marshall but I remember him as one of the fixtures of the early days.

Anonymous said...

As a kid, I used to see Marshall with The Ronnie MaClean All Stars at The New Orleans Jazz Club Forth Banks, in the band at that time was, Hughie Aitchison (Tpt) Ronnie MaClean (Tbn) Trevor Johnson (Reeds) Brian Fisher (Piano) Tom !!!!!! (Bass) & Marshall Walker (Drums), and as a page boy at the Swallow Hotel I ued to help him put his kit in the lift, when he was playing with the Jimmy Miller Trio, on my trips back to Newcastle, he used to remind me of those days at the hotel, a fine drummer, he will be very much missed on the North East Jazz Scene...

Colin Aitchison
Hong Kong

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