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

Friday, December 17, 2010

A couple of things to look forward to at Blaydon.

Well, last night may have been a low point at Blaydon - the cancellation of Roy Williams with the Blaydon Jazz Quartet and the always popular Christmas Party was a bummer which ever way you look at it. However, the future holds at least two good gigs out in Sticksville (my little joke) to look forward to even if we have to wait till March by which time the weather will, we hope, have improved.
March 3 sees the return of that θαυμάσιος tenor player VASILIS XENOPOULOS. Vasi is in the region for a few days so expect to see him elsewhere but he will be at Blaydon first so that if you dig him (and who doesn't?) you can also catch him at other venues.
March 10 - no one man could follow Vasi so Roly, sensibly, booked 16 men and a girl! - The CUSTOMS HOUSE BIG BAND with RUTH LAMBERT.
Make a note in your diaries.
Lance.

4 comments :

Milov Watson said...

I was a bit surprised to see you using Greek fonts on the Blaydon Jazz Club preview, did you know that his name translates roughly as King Strangebird.
I wish you Euqumo Xristougenna kai Kalos Xronov sthn Tzaz.

Milov

Lance said...

Thank you for that Grecian Greeting Milov - it reminds me of the time a guy was talking to me in the pub about the Greek economy and it's effect on the Greek workforce.
I was bored to tears so, in an attempt to inject some levity into the conversation, I said, "all those Bouzouki players out of work eh?"
"Oh yes", he replied, "Sport will be effected."

Elaine said...

Thanks for the mention Lance.
I'm not sure about your description of the Customs House Big Band plus Ruth Lambert as "16 men and A girl" is entirely accurate!

Lance said...

Whoops! I must get my eyes tested!Apologies to Jill, yourself and the other lasses who pop in and out of the baritone and second tenor chair.

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