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

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.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. 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

Monday, March 07, 2011

Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ North Shore, Sunderland. March 6th

This year's Big Band Jazz Festival, the eighth, proved to be bigger and better than ever. North Shore, Sunderland University Students' Union, once more offered the services of its staff and facilities for the duration of the two days of competition.
Sunday, the second day of competition and the concluding day of the three day weekend feast of big band jazz, featured the schools' section. Four entrants battled it out to claim the crown for 2011. First up was Northumberland Schools' Intermediate Jazz Orchestra with the welcome inclusion of a male vocalist. Prudhoe Community High School proved to be a polished outfit and Tudhoe Grange School, regular participants over the years, performed with credit; the programme included Wipe Out and I Heard It Throught the Grapevine. Last year's winners - Gateshead's Little Big Band - had it all to do and did well with Take the A Train and Mr Cool in the pad.
The judges - saxophonists Paul Jones and Mick Donnelly - deliberated long and hard. Having reached a verdict, prizes were awarded and several performers received commendations. The award of best band went to Prudhoe Community High School. Much wooping and high fiving ensued. Handshakes and photographs taken it was time for the winners to perform with Jones and Donnelly - what a treat for all concerned!
The weekend could not have gone better with attendances up markedly, no fewer than sixteen bands competing on Saturday and a concert performance on Friday evening at the Bonded Warehouse (a Students' Union satellite venue) featuring the best of the region's young talent in the company of Paul Jones and Mick Donnelly.
For the record: Saturday's Open Section award winning band was Durham University Big Band and vocalist Ruth Lambert was presented with a special award for her performance with the excellent Customs House Big Band. Those commended and or in receipt of individual awards should feel free to contact Bebop Spoken Here and their names will be recorded for posterity. Russell.
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1 comment :

Daniel Rothwell said...

Hi, I've only just been made aware of this [pretty much a year later], I won the best soloist award that day, Trombone from Huddersfield University :)

Wednesday, February 01, 2012 8:10:00 pm

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