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

Thu 08: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones of 1976.

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.

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, June 04, 2013

RIP Jack Laing

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of tenor saxophonist Jack Laing.
Jack played in innumerable bands for over 60 years - latterly with the Duggie Pugh group,  the Tees Hot Club and was a founding member of the Musicians Unlimited Big Band.
Jack was a great player with a wicked, dry sense of humour and a real pleasure to have on the bandstand.
He was also a fine tutor who taught and influenced many players in the North East.
The funeral arrangements for Jack Laing are as follows.
Friday 7th 3.30 pm at St. Bedes Crematorium Middlesbrough and then from 4.30 pm back at Guisborough Rugby Club for the rest of the evening.
Danny Allan’s band is playing but if any other musicians want to join in they are very welcome. He will be sadly missed.
Ian Bosworth
(Funeral details from Ron Hampton.)

2 comments :

Lance said...

Jackie Laing taught me saxophone back in the 1960s.
He lived in Charlotte St., Wallsend and I'd get the ferry across from Hebburn every Sunday morning. The lessons were great. Very jazzy involving Stan Getz transcriptions and Lennie Niehaus. He'd loan me LPS of the pieces which was a great help.
At the time he was playing with Harry Atkinson's Band at the Empress Ballroom Whitley Bay.
I lost touch with him when the lessons finished but often heard his name crop up on Teesside.
Very sadly missed.
How old was he?

James Harrison (on f/b.) said...

Nice to see you knew Jack Laing, Lance! Him and Pete Papprill were the two 'jokers' who got me into everything, 2 brilliant guys! At least they'll be having a laugh/jam together now! You asked about his age on bebop, I believe Jack was 81. Have missed you at the past few jazz things I've played at recently! Perhaps catch you at the Cherry Tree tomorrow!? All the best!

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