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

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).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

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, January 27, 2010

Wednesday At The Porthole.

The Jazz Esquires: Mick Hill, trumpet, flugel & vocal, Tony Winder tenor & clarinet, Doug Fielder, tenor, Roy Gibson, keyboards, Robin Douthwaite guitar, Stan Nicholson bass guitar, Laurie Brown drums & mike.
The Jazz Esquires made history today by starting before 1 o,clock and kept up a barrage of music till after 3pm.
Kicking off with "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", they ran through a varied programme of standards and some less well known numbers, finishing with an up tempo "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise".
It was nice to here "Critic's Choice" from the Buddy Rich Big Band, the front line coping well with Oliver Nelson's chart, another 12 bar number was Humph's "Me & Buck" a tribute to Buck Clayton. Mick's two solos with the cup mute were very like Clayton's work and he also played a beautiful flugel solo on "When Your Lover Has Gone", with a change of style shown on "Rose Room" he proved once again he hasn't much competition in the trumpet field.
The rhythm section was again the backbone of the session with a particular mention for Stan Nicholson who not only keeps the proceedings firmly anchored on track but also played some great solos. A special mention for Doug Fielder who travels from Workington to play here and with Take It To The Bridge at night, only jazzmen have that dedication.
Interval music was provided by George Laing with Robin on guitar and Derek Chapman on drums. Brian Lineham sang and played harmonica and the ever youthful Teresa sang and won the raffle as usual.
Colin Johnson took over from Roy for a couple of numbers in the second half and at the end of the proceedings the audience showed their appreciation in the usual manner.
Miles Watson.

No comments :

Blog Archive