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, August 20, 2012

Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Cherry Tree Restaurant, Jesmond.

Dean Stockdale (pno); Neil Harland (bs); Keith Hill (dms).
(Review by Lance - photo courtesy of Viv Williamson).
A fairly routine day at the office type gig with a few sound hiccups re the mic and the overall balance. Nevertheless, God Bless The Child (who's got his own - mic?) got things rolling with Stockdale digging deep into his blues flavoured bag of musical tricks. Meanwhile, I was digging deep into the Chef's bag of culinary delights in the form of King Prawn & Scallop with Garlic, Chilli and Coriander, with Spiced Focaccia
Softly as in a Morning Sunrise had a nice easy lilt to it whilst All Blues simply floated. The pianist had more attempts  at  announcing  but  the  mic was in a temperamental mood which isn't a cue for a song! Wave went down  the  bossa  road  and  The Nearness of You  coincided  with  the arrival  of  my Pan  Fried  Chicken Supreme with Butterbeans, Pancetta and Chorizo.
One Note Samba didn't quite cut it for me. The drums tended to be a little too prominent and the piano not prominent enough plus an unusual take on the middle eight. This was probably due to my position in a corner seat getting a distorted sound picture - memo to be sat in my usual seat diagonally opposite under the stairs. 
Bye Bye Blackbird, hello Pan Perdu, Red Wins and Poached Pear. This Can't Be Love - you better believe it! One spoonful and I was  entrapped.
Despite the problems it was a good set that seemed to be appreciated by a fair smattering of folk on both floors.
Lance.

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