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, December 24, 2013

Jam Session @ The Salsa Cafe, Sunday December 22

Pete Gilligan (keys); Paul Grainger (bass); Michael Howard (drums); Stuart McKie (guitar)
And Many Others to be mentioned
(Review by Ann Alex).
Lance appealed for more horns to come to this session and they certainly did: John Rowland, Stuart Findon and Fiona Findon, appeared during the afternoon with their tenor saxes, and also a lad (from London I believe) Sam Newbold, with his alto, who played some blistering fast sax, a joy for horn lovers and everyone else.
But back to the beginning, which saw me eating delicious carrot and coriander soup with a fishcake sandwich and salad, (Salsa Cafe food recommended) and the basic band getting stuck in straight away. 
Pete Gilligan has lost none of his flowing touch, Paul and Michael played well and dependably and Stuart did his bit with flair.  The atmosphere was suitably informal with non jazzers having drinks and quiet chat.  I counted 5 children as well, and 2 of them were watching the drums intently, catch them young I say. We were treated to tunes which included Have You Met Miss Jones; There’ll Never Be Another You; All The Things You Are; Lullaby Of Birdland; All Of Me and a few tunes I couldn’t identify. 
Enter Simon Stephenson on guitar who featured skilfully on Misty; Fiona sang well on Green Dolphin Street but she had to stand at the side of the stage because of the large number of instrumentalists playing.  Then I noticed another guitarist had entered the scene, sorry I didn’t get his name, and behold there was Ray Burns blowing well on harmonica.  Up steps my jazz-singing colleague Jen Errington with They Can’t Take That Away From Me, who looked and sounded professional, Jen gets better each time I hear her.  In comes yours truly with Bye Bye Blackbird, I like to do my bit, so I hope others enjoyed it.  By this time the clock was beating us, getting towards six, so the musicians rounded off with Night In Tunisia.
A really good session with long tunes which allow for plenty enjoyable solos.  Sorry if I’ve missed anyone out, but it was a busy afternoon!
Ann Alex

2 comments :

Ann Alex said...

And yes, I missed out a drummer who goes by the name of Eric Stutt, as I was informed. Not sure how I could omit such a loud sound as drums, but there you go.
Ann Alex

Lance said...

Eric gave this a "like" on F/b so your oversight hasn't offended him!

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