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

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.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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, August 11, 2013

Katherine Stone Quartet/Dean Stockdale Trio @ Ashington Jazz Club August 7.

Dean Stockdale Trio.
Dean Stockdale (pno); Neil Harland (bs); Steve Doyle (dms).
(Review by Peter S.)
With the passing of time and the years sadly our Jazz Artistes pass away, as you will have  noticed in Bebop Spoken Here. Fortunately they leave behind a legacy of great recorded music which remind us of our younger maturing years, while today through the media we can still look back and recall so many talented performers. It is also a delight to know that their music and styles can influence younger musicians today across the world and also here in the North East. These talented youngsters keep our music alive and we are grateful for this.
The AJC, therefore anticipated something special on Wednesday when the Dean Stockdale Trio gave a reflection of the life and music of Oscar Peterson.
We were not disappointed and with instrumentalists of this calibre our nostalgia was rewarded and our musical appetites nourished. Dean impressed on his Nord Piano and with skillful support from Neil Harland on Bass and Steve Doyle as percussionist our imaginations were aroused with superb renditions of O.P. memories. Personally I could have listened much longer to this brilliant ensemble working together as a team but the first set ended leaving us time to assess what we had just heard. Brilliant.
Programme - Blues Etude, Canadian Suite-Wheatland, Suchi, When Summer Comes, Kelly's Blues, Love Ballad, Cake Walk, and Hymn to Freedom.
Katherine Stone Quartet.
As above plus Katherine Stone (vcl).
After the interval the Trio experienced a metamorphosis returning to the stage as a Quartet with the delightful vocalist Katherine Stone making her second visit to AJC. Once again she delivered a great selection of lyrics from the American Song Book with confidence and style and her backroom boys decorated the presentations with  consummate professionalism. The audience showed appreciation for the variety of the programme and applauded spontaneously. Once again we tasted the rich choice of Jazz talent here in the North and I hope you get out there and give your support. Excellent.
Programme - Besame Mucho, Cheek to Cheek, My Heart Belongs to Daddy, I've Got You Under my Skin, Misty , I Get a Kick Out of You, The Way
You Look Tonight, Hit the Road to Dreamland, Fly Me to the Moon, I Wish You Love, I Wish I Knew How it Felt to be Free, Spooky, and Route 66.
As the Duke would say "We love you, madly."
Above photos are by Peter Sanderson.
More photos here from Jim Fay.
Peter S.

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