Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 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

Thursday, October 03, 2013

CD Review: Kaz Simmons - Signs

Kaz Simmons (voice,guitars); Martin Kolarides (electric guitar); Will Bartlett (Wurlitzer piano, Hammond B-3, Mellotron samples); Riaan Vosloo (bass guitar); Tim Giles (drums)
(Review by Ann Alex).
No offence to BSH readers, but on Wednesday when I listened to this CD, I'd much rather have been at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Dean Street, Soho, to attend the album launch, in order to hear this pure-toned sweet-voiced lady doing her stuff with this versatile, lively band.  And that just about sums up the review!
Lance will demand that I write more.  The CD is made up of original songs except for 1 track (You Belong To Me); not a jazz album, rather light rock, but hard to classify.  This is really a concept CD in praise of London and London life, with love songs, the busyness and the loneliness of city life, and even a song about internet dating, with amusing quotes from someone’s dating profile.  The music seems to move along city streets, buzzing with life, with short instrumental breaks rather than the extended solos that you’d get on a jazz album.  Influences mentioned on the CD insert include Pink Floyd, and I detected hints of the Kate Bush style of singing in Kaz Simmons voice.  I especially liked the energy of the track For The Love Of The Big L and the lyrics of Signs which was all about what to say to start off a relationship.
Kaz Simmons has quite an impressive musical history, including a music degree from Goldsmiths University, work as a session guitarist, performances at various jazz clubs, and work with Jamie Cullum.
The album is released on October 28th 2013 on (I think) All About Promotions. More info and samples.
Ann Alex.
at

2 comments :

Kaz said...

Thank you for the lovely review Ann. I'm really glad you like the album. Best wishes, Kaz x

Thursday, October 03, 2013 2:04:00 pm
Ann said...

Thank you Kaz. I think I should have said that the record label is Fast Awake Records
Ann

Thursday, October 03, 2013 6:40:00 pm

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive