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

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Farewell Michael Garrick M.B.E.

The shock news has just reached me via LondonJazz of the death of Michael Garrick pictured here with our Ann Alex at a trio concert in Gateshead last year - the year he was made an M.B.E.
One of the most outstanding composers, arrangers, pianists in British, nay world, jazz Michael Garrick died yesterday on November 11 - another reason for remembering that date.
He was 78.
Sadly missed.
Lance.

5 comments :

Germaine Stanger said...

So sorry to hear of Michael Garrick's death. I sang with him on a two night 'Pizza on the Park' gig organised by Andy Hudson, too many years ago to mention. For some reason Malcolm Saul,(with whom I normally sang), couldn't make the gig at the last minute and would you believe, the 'dep' was Michael - how about that!
He was outstanding.I will always remember his playing and how he worked so hard to make it feel as if we had worked together for ages. A lovely guy and a great pianist. Germaine Stanger.

Anonymous said...

I am devastated. I have not seen Mike for 45 years but was bass player with Mike in his first trio and played many concerts with Joe Harriott and Shake Keane(I am on the LPs Jazz and Poetry from 1964 I believe it was. I was honoured to have been mentioned in his autobiography. But is was the honour of having been 'selected' by Mike to play in his trio/quintet. What an inspiration he was (as is) to so many. Mike always played in a style he believed in although his originality did not always meet with instant approval. For many, this came later - as it did with me. I chose a career along different lines, but have often asked myself if I should not have followed the heart and kept to jazz. Well, I switched from bass to piano - but also from (semi)prof to amateur. Mike is always there as an inspiration. I never had, and will never have, his technique, but Mike was not concerned with that. He was devoted to sounds, harmonies, rhythms and cross-rhythms - all in rich combinations. Just listen to his trio - groups and big band. He aspired all his life to inspire others. His music will continue to do so. I hope that his summer/winter courses will survive and continue to bear his his name. Musicians, classical and jazz - and more, owe him this. Mike never distinguished between the typical categories of music - music was what it was - a genre to bring people together. He did this with devotion and enthusiasm.
I can only say 'Thanks Mike' for myself and so many others.
John Taylor, Oslo

Ann Alexander said...

I met Michael only last year at this gig and didn't know much about him, but he was a real gentleman so news of his death is quite a shock.
Ann Alex

Lance said...

Tonight at the London Jazz Festival gig at The Spice of Life Trudy Kerr sang and dedicated "Don't Get Around Much Any more" to Michael.

Lance said...

Cormack Loane reminded me of a memorable occasion which I had forgotten(!) of when the Newcastle Big Band - we were both members of the sax section - played a support gig with Michael Garrick back in the 1970's.

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