Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 2026)

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

18878 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 742 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 4.) 21.

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

From This Moment On

September.

Tue 08: Seijiro Murayama & Jean-Luc Guionnet @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Warwick St., Newcastle, NE2 1BB. 7.00pm. £10.00 (advance); £12.00 (on door); £.15.00 (solidarity).
Tue 08: SH#RP Collective @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 08: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Hartlepool Cricket Club. 7:30pm. £7.00.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 09: NONUNONU @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE. Excellent trio.

Thu 10: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 10: Jacenaite All Crew @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 10: Emma Rawicz INKYRA @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.30. Sage Two. Line-up: Emma Rawicz (sax); Scottie Thompson (piano, keyboards, synth); David Preston (guitar); Kevin Glasgow (bass guitar); Jack Thomas (drums).

Fri 11: Esther Bennett @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £10.00. Esther Bennett (vocals); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass).
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Mike Durham Funeral Arrangements.


Patti Durham sent me this re Mike's funeral - "I thought I'd update you - I got confirmation this afternoon from the Funeral Director that the service will be at the Trinity church next Thursday - 21 March.  I've asked for a morning time - at about 11 am.  Afterwards we'll meet up at the Village Hotel - for drinks, buffet, jokes, stories, etc.  plus maybe some more music.  Derek Fleck, Brian Chester and co will play us in and out of the church for the service.  As someone else said, Mike is now walking with the king 
Thanks, Patti x". PS 11am confirmed.
-----

Beautiful to connect up with the two jazz venues Mike was most associated with in recent years. Patti, we offer you, Cassie and Chris, our absolute, deepest, sympathies and I, personally, am gutted that I will be unable to pay my respects in person. Rest assured that my thoughts will be alongside those of everyone present. 
If, on Thursday at 11am, I'm singing the blues it will be Bix's version as I reflect upon Mike and our mutual love of the great cornet player from Davenport. Iowa.
May he indeed walk with the King as, in our north east dukedom, he was indeed Jazz Royalty.
Lance.

1 comment :

John C. Hallam. said...

Sadly, I too will be unable to be at Mike's funeral. I will be on my way back from a working trip to Paris . I tried to cancel one appointment and come back late on Wednesday but it was not feasible.
Having known Mike for 30+ years, depped in the WJRK, been a member of his Swing Six, Spats Rhythm Boys, the recreated Jos Q Atkinson Band and worked alongside him on the British Dance Band project. I had the greatest respect for his knowledge, unbounded enthusiasm and organisational ability. I also played in almost every Whitley Bay Jazz Festival, from the first (with organiser Ray Brown). Not a year went by that the Festival grew in stature, to become what many regard as the premier Classic Jazz and Hot Dance festival in the world.
Mike quietly stamped his personality and enthusiasms on the Festival, and it is difficult to imagine jazz in the North East without this remarkable man.
I am sorry that I won't be there on Thursday but I am sure that Mike's legacy will continue.
John
p.s. I don't know whether Patti will thank me for this.... it was me who started Mike collecting old trumpets !

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