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

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.

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.

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, May 19, 2010

Spice of Life.

Hard on the heels of Lee Konitz it might be thought that the Spice would be a let down
Of course it never is - what you see is what you get and tonight you got plenty.
I arrived midway through Kerry Hodgkin set - Kerry sang an assortment of contemporary classics - even Roxanne - plus lots of Van Morrison. Have you noticed how much VM is infiltrating the jazz repertoire? No bad thing. Kerry does it good and her new CD is worth looking out for.
On piano, Jenny Carr - a new name for me - played some great backing as well as punchy solos - watch this space. Julian Berry on bass and Jonathon Lee on drums were a sound rhythm section.
After Kerry's departure the singers came fast and furious with, as usual, the ladies outnumbering the men.
There really is a conveyer belt churning out these girls and who's complaining?!
The minority sex included Victor (You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You), Peter (Deed I Do) before the girls moved back into power.
Maggie Burrowes sang Bye Bye Blackbird - she really got into the song - Miles with words.
Val Kelly exuded class on The Nearness of You - a hint of Dinah/Sarah. Esther Bennett knocked out On A Clear Day - those heels that voice!
Penultimately, Kai Hoffman sang Teach Me Tonight - you can join my class anytime - and, for the grand finale, Kerry and Kai joined forces for the rockingest Route 66 you'll ever hear this side of Gallop, New Mexico. To make sure it reached San Bernadino Esther and Peter kicked in.
Lee Konitz? Oh yes, that was earlier.
Lance.

2 comments :

Kai said...

glad you liked it Lance! shame the photo's not so flattering..! :-) Come join us at Ronnie Scott's Bar sometime - Kai's Cats are there every first Thursday: June 3rd, July 1st.. etc. Best wishes, Kai Hoffman

Lance said...

Check some of the other photos!

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