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

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

More on the Great Whittington Jazz Picnic

Ray Shenton's piece about a jazz session in Great Whittington (see New Comment Old Posts) reminded me of an afternoon of jazz quite a few years ago in the grounds of the village hall. The session was advertised in Jazz Guide. I went along, called into the seventeenth century Queen's Head Inn (reputedly the oldest in Northumberland), supped a pint of Hambleton's (I think), then wandered round the corner to listen to the jazz.
It was a warm summer's afternoon, a nice day out. I hadn't realised that it was/is an annual event. This year's event (Sunday August 8) will be the 15th Great Whittington Jazz Picnic. For imbibers travelling from the Newcastle area and not wishing to drink and drive, there is a bus (no.74) from Eldon Square Bus Station to Matfen - a little way short of Great Whittington necessitating a bit of a walk (the bus runs through to Great Whittington every day except Sunday - typical!). Two websites worth looking at: www.greatwhittington.com (see photo of Ray Shenton and the Victory 'V') and www.the-queens-head-inn.co.uk.
Russell
at

3 comments :

Lance said...

You are correct Russell. Hambleton's Bitter was one of the regular brews at the Queens Head - known locally as 'The Yacht Club' because of its upmarket pretensions.
In my cycling days I was a frequent visitor.

Thursday, June 17, 2010 8:48:00 am
Ray Shenton said...

You are spot on Russell. We've been doing this now for 15 years and we were originally formed to play at the picnic there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of the second world war, hence the name The Victory V's.
The line up this year is
John Cowan Trumpet
Jim McBriarty Clarinet and sax
Herbie Hudson Trombone (Original RCJ member from 1955)
Brian Bennett Banjo
Fred Thompson Drums
Peter Shenton Bass
Ray Shenton Piano(original RCJ member from 1955)
and Guest appearance of Joe Shenton Washboard ( Original RCJ member from 1955)

So bring your own picnic and for £5 (kids go free) enjoy the Victory V jazzmen at one of the prettiest villages in Northumberland. If the weather is crap we crowd inside the village hall
Up to now the good weather success rate has been 80%

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 5:37:00 pm
Ray Shenton said...

I forgot to mention the time of the event. It will be from noon till 3 pm and any profits will go to Tynedale Hospice at Home. Hope to see you all then

Wednesday, June 23, 2010 10:02:00 am

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