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

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.

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).

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

Sunday, October 21, 2012

CONTEMPORARY JAZZ IN THE NORTH EAST: WHICH WAY FORWARD?

(Announcement by Paul Bream)
A couple of weeks ago I send out a preliminary notice about a public meeting on the future of jazz provision in the North East. That meeting is now imminent, and I cannot stress strongly enough how important this could be to maintaining, indeed improving, a vibrant jazz scene in the region . . . I urge everybody who has an interest in jazz, whether as musician, promoter, educator, student or audience member, to get along - even if you don't feel able to contribute to discussion, your very presence at the meeting will help show how strongly we all feel about the music we love.

A Public Meeting
CONTEMPORARY JAZZ IN THE NORTH EAST:
WHICH WAY FORWARD?

Tuesday 23rd October | 7.00 - 9.00pm
To be followed by live music from Zoe Gilby (vocals) and Andy Champion (bass).
Bar available

Newcastle Literary & Philosophical Society | 23 Westgate Road | Newcastle NE1 1SE
The meeting will be chaired by Chis Hodgkins, Director of Jazz Services, the national development agency for jazz.
In order to provide a context for discussion, there will be three short presentations:
Paul Bream (Jazz North East & Schmazz)Where we are, how we got here, and what we face.
Nigel Slee (Jazz North)The new jazz agency for the North - its purpose, its plans, and its possibilities.
Steve Crocker (Seven Jazz, Leeds)The role of a voluntary promoters network for the North.
These presentations will be followed by an opportunity to ask questions, and then more extensive open discussion of possible ways forward - this session is likely to be structured around key topics (e.g. what sort of music?, how do we find new audiences?, are there untapped funding opportunities?, building co-operation between promoters, etc), but will not be restrictive - any views, on any topic, will be welcome.
At the end of the discussion, it's intended that a working group can be established to consider how the views and suggestions of the meeting can best be met across the whole of the North East region, what sort of organisation is required, and possible sources of funding. 
And then we can all wind down and enjoy ourselves, listening to Zoe Gilby and Andy Champion, and reminding ourselves of just why we love jazz and are determined to see it thrive. 
Paul Bream.

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