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

Sun 14: Musicians Unlimited + Darlington Big Band @ West Hartlepool RFC. 12 noon-6:00pm. £9.00. Musicians Unlimited’s Xmas Party. SOLD OUT!
Sun 14: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 14: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 6:30pm. £15.18 (inc. bf).
Sun 14: Paul Skerritt @ The Black Candle, South Shields. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 14: Sean Noonan Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 15: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 16: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Tue 16: A Jazzy Xmas @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Kyran Matthews (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).
Tue 16: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 17: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £29.00 (inc. bf). ‘Festive Lunch’. VCJ on stage 12 noon (three sets 'til 4:00pm).
Wed 17: Lazy River Band @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Veronica Perrin, Chris Perrin, John Farragher, Phil Rutherford
Wed 17: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 17: Paul Skerritt @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Wed 17: A Jazzy Xmas @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Kyran Matthews (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).
Wed 17: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 18: Paul Skerritt @ YOLO, Ponteland. 7:00pm. ‘Swing & Jazz Night’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 18: Joe Steels & Friends @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:30pm. Free (donations).

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.

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

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Request from Chris Hodgkins of Jazz Services.

We've been asked to forward this request from Chris Hodgkins of Jazz Services to complete their brief on-line survey on the 'Needs of the Jazz Community'
There's a link below and it would be very helpful if you're willing to give your views.    Closing date Nov 5th. The survey information is followed by a press release about an appeal to help 'Keep Jazz on the Road' - and see also the offer of 6 copies of Jazz UK delivered to your home if you make a donation to Jazz Services.
Lance.
From Chris Hodgkins:
I am reaching out directly for your help in getting the word out about a couple of initiatives that we hope will improve both the service we provide and the benefit to the jazz scene.  I would be very grateful if you could help us to get the news out on these two initiatives.

The first initiative is the first ever survey of the Needs of the Jazz Communityand gives everybody from musician, promoter, attenders, youth orchestras, educators, organisations - in fact the whole jazz scene - a chance to have their say.  This is a great opportunity to voice your opinions on the needs of the jazz community through an online survey hosted on our website.  
The purpose of the exercise is to ascertain the needs of the UK jazz constituency, which will strengthen our case for the equitable treatment of jazz in the UK and inform funding bodies, potential sponsors, Parliament and Government on what is required to continue to develop a healthy jazz scene.
By completing the survey you’ll be helping to address those needs and ensure that the jazz scene in the UK continues to grow, develop and maintain its vibrancy in the light of public sector cuts and an historical imbalance in the public funding of jazz.  It also helps us map the demographic of the scene and enable us to better understand our audience and those we’re trying to help.
What would also be of great help is if you can forward this on to friends and colleagues with an interest in jazz.  The survey is a quick and simple on-line questionnaire, found on our website via the following link:
Closing date is Monday 5th November 2012.
Read the full press release about the survey and our needs research on our website:
The second initiative is a campaign we have just commenced called Keep Jazz On The Road!
Sadly, Jazz Services has had to endure hefty funding cuts in recent times, and we are not alone; jazz promoters up and the country are feeling the pinch.  This means that there's suddenly a lot less money to pass around to promoters and musicians.  Inevitably, this will lead to gigs being cut, venues becoming harder to create and sustain and musicians being unable to come and play for you because they simply can't afford to.
As jazz can no longer rely on traditional funding sources, we're asking for help from one of the most important people in the jazz world - you!  We need you to help Jazz Services Keep Jazz On The Road!
If you make a donation of just £15 directly to Jazz Services (a registered charity) via Gift Aid - you'll be helping to keep jazz happening near you for the price of a round of drinks.  We need just 4000 of the UK's 500,000 jazz lovers to do this, so please encourage your friends and fellow listeners to do the same and Keep Jazz On The Road!  
To donate to Jazz Services, follow the link to our Donation page on the website.  All donors will receive 6 issues of JazzUK direct to their door.
For those who are able, Jazz Services also has a number of Keep Jazz On The Road donation cards, which we can send on for distribution through venues, shops, etc.  Please contact us for more info or if you would like to distribute the campaign cards.
I do hope you will be able to help and I very much hope that you will complete the Needs of the jazz Community research survey and persuade friends and colleagues to do the same.
Very many thanks for your help in this, it is greatly appreciated.
Chris Hodgkins
Director, Jazz Services Ltd.

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