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

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.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

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, September 30, 2011

RIP Denys Harris

When Bebop Spoken Here went on-line back in 2008 - one of the first to post a comment was Elizabeth Harris  better known to us simply as 'Liz'.
Liz and her husband Denys have been friends of ours for some years now - not only because of their enthusiasm for quality music but as a nice easy to get along with couple.
Therefore it is with much sadness that I have to announce that Denys passed away on Sept. 28 in a hospice near York where they lived.
Both were originally from the North-East and had an everlasting affinity with the area. In the photo, taken at last year's Scarborough Jazz Festival, Denys is on the left and I'm the guy on the right.
Our condolences and deepest sympathy go out to Liz.
RIP Denys - I never did get to hear you sing but you brought some great crime writers to my attention - thank you.
Lance.
Autumn in New York / Body and Soul. (see comments)

5 comments :

Liz Harris said...

Thankyou Lance for that touching tribute.

As you know, Denys and I are great enthusiasts of Gasbook and as I type now I'm listening to Frank singing Body & Soul and Autumn in New York. These are typical examples of the lyrics that moved us and indeed, are moving me now as I remember happier days.

Our friendship with yourself and Marlene has always had a special place in our hearts. Denys's conversations on the phone with Marlene were always something he treasured.

So, we move forward, the better for having Denys in our lives and we look forward to seeing you both on Friday.

Liz.

Roly said...

Very sorry to hear the sad news.
Thinking of you Liz.
Roly

Ann Alex said...

Liz, I've never met you except via this blog, so perhaps I do know you a little. So I'm offering my condolences at this sad time. You sound as if you have good memories, and I imagine York is a lovely place to live, which will probably help you, later on, to feel better. It's good that you'll have Lance and Marlene with you. Take care, Ann Alex

Lance said...

If it is possible to have a 'lovely funeral' then this was it. Denys was sent off with dignity and much love.
Liz's daughter-in-law Samantha sang Moon River accompanied by Liz's son Kevin on guitar and Liz's brother David on harmonica. Nat King Cole's version of Stardust was the perfect note to end an emotional service.
Afterwards, at a local hostelry, in conversation with another of Liz's brothers - Ron Goodall, himself an accomplished guitarist I discovered that he'd played with Gerry Dunning and Jeremy McMurray over the years - small world!
The fact that the crem and the pub were crowded speaks volumes for the place Denys and Liz hold in the hearts of their family and friends.

Liz said...

Well Lance, you more than almost anyone, know the value of the right music to fit the occasion and it seals it for me that you gave it your approval...the Moon River choice was somehow so right with that line referring to the rainbow's end, and Stardust echoed exactly the way it was for Denys & I...I was privileged to have you both there.Thank you too to Ann & Roly, people I have never met, but bound in the friendship of BSH
Liz

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