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

Thu 18: Paul Skerritt @ YOLO, Ponteland. 7:00pm. ‘Swing & Jazz Night’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 18: Joe Steels & Friends @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:30pm. Free (donations).

Fri 19: Fraser Urquhart @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT! .
Fri 19: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 19: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 19: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00..
Fri 19: Castillo Nuevo @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:00pm. Free. .
Fri 19: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy..
Fri 19: Paul Skerritt @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes. .
Fri 19: Giles Strong Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club..
Fri 19: Creakin’ Bones & the Xmas Dinners @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £13.01 (inc. bf)..
Fri 19: Mark Toomey Quintet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.

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.

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

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Wishes for the New Year

I'd like to take this opportunity of inviting north-east jazz fans to suggest bands/musicians/singers they'd like to see appearing locally in 2011. Send us your wish lists although don't be too ambitious. For starters here's mine: Simon Spillett, Paul Booth, Karen Sharp, Mornington Lockett, Lew Watson, Bobby Wellins (tenors) Ryan Quigley, Bruce Adams (trumpets) Paul Towndrow, Pete King, Nigel Hitchcock, Jason Yarde (altos) Brass Jaw, Gillespiana, NYJO (bands) John Surman (bari) Brian Kellock, Leon Greening, Jason Moran (piano) Martin Taylor,Dave Cliff (guitars) Angie King, Sarah Ellen Hughes, (vocals) These are just a few thoughts but let us have yours and who knows... Lance.

16 comments :

Paul said...

Ari Hoenig and John Taylor. Hooked on both at the moment. Happy Christmas, New Year etc.

Paul

John T said...

I want to hear/see two bands from the south of our region and if possible book them for Ashington Jazz Club for Spring 2010!


I've not seen Djangology live but the myspace clips sound great http://www.jazzaction.co.uk/djangology.html ( Especially now with a new and more local line up including professor Birkett!!)

The other is Ray Dales with Jeremy McMurry and Co. http://www.raydalesmusic.co.uk/# Samples sound great - a real nice, straight ahead alto sound.
John T

Debra said...

Kurt Elling. Very disappointed he's not at the Sage after all - he was initially listed in the Jazz Festival
Debra

Bobbi C said...

20s & 30s style hot jazz at venues with a bit of dancefloor space please!
Bobbi

Neilsound said...

Jacques loussier, Sonny Rollins, Darius Brubeck,
Happy New Year Lance,
Neil

. said...

Dear Santa, please may you get me:

Matthew Bourne/Steve Davis/Dave Kane performing their acclaimed album "Lost Something"

Dave O'Higgins' old band "Roadside Picnic"

Andy Sheppard's "Movement in Colour" quintet

Phronesis left out the united state of northeast in their "Alive" album 2011 tour, tschtsch.

Arun Ghosh, but only after he's made a new long awaited album

Keith and Charlie's Jasmine. I'll promise not to cough or clap!

Vijay Iyer

Love the dancefloor suggestion. I ask you when was the last time you bopped to the bop!?

and most of all Carla Bley

Liz said...

Laurie Holloway & any combination of his choice musicians to accompany
Liz

cptfinch said...

Couple of Americans:
Freddie Cole - saw him earlier in year and would suit the intimate atmosphere of hall 2 at Sage.
Diana Krall - hall 1 at Sage.

Roly said...

Well - two top players that spring to mind are pianist John Taylor and Louis Stewart.
Maybe they could come as a duo (Evans/Hall style?)
For a one off local combination - I've often said Steve Andrews would be great with a top class 'modern' trio.
So maybe Steve plus Paul Edis Trio playing a pre-planned (even maybe rehearsed) set of tunes.
I bet the music would be good.
All the best for 2011.
Roly

Derrick C said...

The best I can come up with is referring you www.norwichjazzparty. This suggestion reflects personal preferences together with the fact that the performers will be in the UK late April early May. Relevant contact info is also on this website if of interest to you.

Lance said...

Some excellent names there Derrick - Daryl Sherman, Bob Wilber, Ken Peplowski, Scott Hamilton, Marty Grosz, Karen Sharp, Warren Vaché etc...

gillian said...

As for jazz artists, let's start the New Year off in optimistic mood if not in a slightly frivolous mood. I would like, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. I guess that takes care of January. I'm sure that our paths will cross soon because the paths are now free from snow and ice. I'm afraid that I've fallen twice but I'm O.K.
Gillian.

Lance said...

Gillian - the impossible may take a little while...
In the meantime the closest you're going to get to the names mentioned would be by a visit to Rosie Malone's, South Shields Market Place Thursday afternoons at 2:00pm.

Wes said...

If I could pick any group it would be the Bryan Spring Trio, I'd like to see return visits from Paul Clarvis, Peter Brotzmann, Han Bennink, Ernst Reijseger, Gunter Baby Sommer, what's the chances of getting Ornette Coleman! Anyone who recorded for the BYG Actuel label that is still alive and kicking would be very exciting and I'd like to see Barry Guy in Newcastle.

Pam Y said...

Just been listening to David Murray with Cassandra Wilson, one can but dream!!

Russell said...

Hi Lance

A short list, in no particular order...Lewis Watson, Charles Gayle, James Carter, Mike Walker, Mike Outram, Zoe Rahman, Stan Tracey, Djangologie, Brass Jaw, Northern Brass and many more.

Russell

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