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

18122 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1086 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 31), 100

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 07: FILM: Blue Moon @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Dir. Richard Linklater’s biopic of Lorenz Hart.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 08: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones of 1976.

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.

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

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Words from Dave Weisser - an 'intemperate rant' to Paul Bream (Jazz Alert)

Yo Paul:
I see that you've left our WEEKLY Take It To The Bridge JAZZ WORKSHOP off the week's listing. Surely even you can't have forgotten that we've been going for nearly ten years now. And, commenting on your mention of Alan Glen's gig a few weeks ago (something about "originals"), if you'd been to Alan's gig last week, you would've heard three originals by that estimable pianist, in front of a nearly full room (something even Lance neglected to mention in his review), and a few weeks earlier, his original "Big Deal At Ocho Rios", (the story behind which is hilarious) mixed in with the standards which you hold in such disdain.
So, I guess you won't be there to hear the amazing drummers who've been filling Eric's shoes these last few weeks, such as Paul Wight, Malcolm Dick (between his tours with Richie Blackmore), and again tonight, an amazing young drummer and protege of Malcolm's, Rob Bates. Other special guest band appearances are upcoming, but you can read about them in Lance's blog.
But then, as a lowly 'jam session', we really don't warrant much (parasitic) media attention, especially as it all happens without one iota of grant support, just the good will of the cats who take part.
Regards
Dave
TAKE IT TO THE BRIDGE.
"Views and comments posted on these pages do not necessarily coincide with my own and are solely the opinion of the post's author.
Lance."

2 comments :

Brian Chester said...

Fully support your comments Dave.
You're doing a great job at the Chilli and it's such a shame that it's not better attended.
Keep up the good work
Brian Chester
(I'm really intrigued to know the story behind Big Deal in Ocho Rios
I went there once - It was a right shithole)





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Steve Andrews said...

Absolutely, Dave! I've not read Mr. Bream's comments, but I reckon anyone who can keep a Jazz session going for ten years has to be doing sonething very right! And, with respect to critics everywhere, I know whereof I speak, having run gigs, both short- and long-term, over more than 30 years in the NE and Cumbria - it's hard, often discouraging work.
It's been a long time since we played together, but if you see an elderly fat man clutching a tenor case for support one night, who knows, it might be me, looking for a sit - in!

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