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

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.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. 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

Sunday, December 08, 2013

Keith Stephen's Hot Club Trio Featuring Caroline Irwin @ Ashington Jazz Club December 4.

Keith Stephen (Guitar), Roly Veitch (Guitar), Bruce Rollo (Bass), Caroline (Irwin) Stephen (Vocals)
(Review by Peter Sanderson).
The  December gathering of the faithful members at Ashington Jazz Club would not be the same without this combo. As the 2012 meeting was cancelled due to poor weather we had waited a long time for this evening. A good audience arrived and, to adopt a phrase from a pop song of the fifties, "Ooo what a night we had, such a night." 
Motherhood has obviously been a great experience for Caroline who took to the stage with an air of confidence and maturity. I would suggest the voice is different and more accomplished as she presented a number of lyrics with vigour and an assurance in her ability to entertain, surprise and delight her audience with a wide range of lyrics. The quality of the musicians who support her  does not go unnoticed  playing a major role in delivering each superb performance. Keith on lead guitar has such skill while the ever dependable and incomparable Roly Veitch is there driving the rhythm forward with ease. He also sings well in a sort of gentle Chet Baker style adding his own emotional feeling to the lyrics. What can you say about Bruce Rollo. His style reminds me of Slam Sterwart of B.G. Groups which I adored as a young Jazz enthusiast. How he achieves such movement is beyond me but his rare style is just brilliant. The Band put a smile on a happy audience which was what this evening was all about so near to Christmas.
PROGRAMME - Exactly Like You, Walking After Midnight, Bie Mir Bist du Schoen (you know that one -I do my best but not German), Django's Castle, Dinah, Autumn Leaves, Winter Wonderland, Dr. Jazz, Happy as the Day is Long. Minor Swing, Speak to me of Love, Red Hot Mama, Stars Fell on Alabama, Shine, Wonderful World, La Vie en Rose, China Boy, I Get the Blues When it Rains, Running Wild, and the encore Santa Baby.
On this the final AJC meet of the year may I thank all our members for their support in 2013. Without you we would not have a Jazz Club.
To all those wonderful musicians and bands who have travelled to our most Northerly Jazz Club and appeared on our stage we appreciate your making the journey. I hope you have a good working Christmas and may  2014 bring you many gigs. Good health and thank you from AJC.
A big thanks to The Elephant for allowing our Club to move forward . We thank you for your cooperation. Best Wishes.
Finally, we would like to show our gratitude to Lance Liddle and Bebop Spoken Here who have given AJC the publicity we need.
To all Jazz enthusiasts our there "Keep Jazzing". Thank John Taylor for making all this happen.
We take a break  now until our first meeting of the New Year .when Alter Ego will be our guests.  Wednesday February 5th.  at 8.00 p.m.  See  you there.
Peter S.

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