Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18429 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 293 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 13 ) 27,

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

From This Moment On

April

Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 17: Ben Crosland Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £12.96 (inc. bf) online; £15.00 on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.

Sat 18: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Swing dance sessions + Bright Street Big Band 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm.
Sat 18: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm. £27.00 (inc. bf).

Sun 19: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Trio + Lara Hopper.
Sun 19: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 19: Straight to Tape @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Edd Carr, Jonathan Proud, John Hirst. Blues trio.
Sun 19: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Graham Hardy’s Eclectic Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

Mon 20: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 20: Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

Tue 21: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval NE25 0AT. Tel: 0191 237 3697. Tickets: £14.00. ‘Pie & Pea Lunch’.
Tue 21: Neil Cowley Trio @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £29.00., £26.00., £23.00.
Tue 21: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Jack Littlewood (drums).

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Nubiyan Twist @ Digital, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £28.75 (inc. bf).
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 7:30pm. Date, time & admission TBC.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 23: FILM: Big Mama Thornton: I Can’t Be Anyone But Me @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 6:15pm. Dir. Robert Clem (2025).
Thu 23: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 23: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 23: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra & Musicians Unlimited @ ARC, Stockton. 8:00pm. £19.00. inc. bf.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Mark McKnight Quartet @ The Cluny. September 27.

Mark McKnight (guitar), Seamus Blake (tenor saxophone), Ross Stanley (organ) & James Maddren (drums).
Schmazz @ The Cluny and Jazz North East pooled resources to secure the Newcastle booking of Mark McKnight's band during an extensive tour of the UK. Irishman McKnight made a considerable impression last year at the Corner House in the company of alto star Paul Towndrow. The Cluny date was keenly anticipated and a large turn-out greeted the quartet with much enthusiasm. The guitarist's latest CD - Do or Die - is most accomplished and hearing the material live proved to be a real treat. 
The tunes strong, musicianship of the highest order, it all seemed so effortless. McKnight the composer is one to watch and all four musicians developed extended solos; Nightcap, a new tune - Ballad of Lee Murgatroyd - and the one non-original number - Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered - were quite exceptional. McKnight's fluency was something to behold, Seamus Blake's tenor the perfectly pitched foil, organist Ross Stanley the master of his instrument and young drummer James Maddren had it all at his fingertips. The first set concluded with Overnight the eponymous number from McKnight's acclaimed debut recording as a bandleader. The consensus of the interval chatter gave a unanimous thumbs up to a great first set. 
Another pint of Harviestoun's IPA was called for as future gigs were discussed...Ray Chester, Charles Gayle, Enrico Tomasso (the Tyneside audience is nothing if not catholic in taste) and before we knew it we were served a second helping of McKnight & co.. Pieces, with perhaps a hint of Mingus' Goodbye Pork Pie Hat and McLaughlin's Extrapolation period, featured Maddren's languid yet tight drumming with McKnight's bell-like tones ringing out across the Cluny. Do or Die had to feature and it did. It sounds good on CD and it sounded rather good live!  McKnight's very first composition - Contemplate - a ballad at that, proved to be a highlight with Blake playing some assured old school tenor. The closing number (We'll) Just Disappear upped the ante featuring outrageously good solos all round with Seamus Blake's tenor playing catching everyone by surprise as he rattled-off phrase after sanctifying phrase. Was this a prayer meeting? Thrilling stuff! A contender for gig of the year.
Russell     
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