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

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.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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, March 13, 2012

San Sebastian Jazz Festival 1972 - Newcastle Big Band.

Phil Doggett who played baritone with Newcastle Big Band on their 1970's trips to the San Sebastian Jazz Festival uncovered these rare photos in his loft and passed them on to me via David Brown who was the tenor player furthest left (Charlie Carmichael and myself were the other tenors along with Nigel Stanger on alto.
Also present was Trumpet player Dave Saville who died late last year, John Pearce and Alan Gibb but none of us who are still alive could initially remember the name of the trumpet player standing tall at the back.
Jacky Denton (dms); Lance Liddle, Charlie Carmichael (ten); Phil Doggett (bar); Nigel Stanger (alt); Dave Brown (ten). Steve Gibbs, John Pearce, Alan Gibb, Dave Saville (tpts). Gordon Solomon, Bob King (tmbs); Andy Hudson (pno) and Ian Heslop (bs) are not shown.
Lance.

6 comments :

Lance said...

One thing I remember re San Sebastian was a pre-festival reception and someone, probably, Andy Hudson said, "Lance, I'd like you to meet Horace Parlan"
Last week I was selling his Blue Note albums and here I was shaking hands with him. Parlan was pianist with the Clark Terry Big Band who were amazing. and included Grady Tate on drums, Richard Williams in the trumpet section and a whole lot more. Great times.
Talking trumpets, the unidentified Newcastle Big Band trumpet player was Steve Gibbs.

JKasker said...

I'm from Spain. In my country exist the theory that in this concert the bass player was Sting. Apparently in this point Ian Heslop was separate from NBB. Can anyone confirm this información?.

Lance said...

I was on that gig and the bassist was definitely Ian Heslop. Sting joined later and came to San Sebastian with the group Last Exit. Circa 1974/75.
Lance.

JKasker said...

Thanks Lance!!!!. The official page of the Festival present the same mistake. It's so sad that in the picture can't recognize the face of the bass player. I'll write it to them, hope they believe me. The font can't be more safety. Thanks!!!!!.

Lance said...

I added a link to the original March 13 post linking to a San Sebastian photo from the same year showing Ian Heslop in the centre of the picture at the rear of the group. This picture came from a Spanish newspaper La Voz de Espana.

JKasker said...

Hello Lance. This site is great for Jazz lovers. I'd need to contact with Andy Hudson, the leader of NBB for a work of investigation about the Spain concerts in San Sebastian Jazz Festival. Hope you could help me Lance.

Thanks!!!!!.

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