Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 2026

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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 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

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.
at

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

Friday, May 21, 2010 8:59:00 pm
Lance said...

Check some of the other photos!

Friday, May 21, 2010 9:00:00 pm

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive