Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Charlie Parker was my introduction to the religion of music. And so he's always with me .'' - Downbeat November 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

17950 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 914 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Nov. 7).

From This Moment On ...

November

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Thu 04: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Seasonal/Festive Music & Songs - autumn into winter.
Thu 13: Awen Ensemble @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Jazz-folk.
Thu 13: SwanNek + Ellen Beth Adbi + Phantom Bagman @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. A BBC Introducing event.

Fri 14: Dan Johnson Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 14: Giles Strong Quartet @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £32.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 14: Guisborough Big Band @ Saltburn Golf Club. 7:30pm. £12.00 (inc. pie & peas). SOLD OUT!

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:00-9:30pm.
Sat 15: Les Frères Frangipane @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 8:00pm (doors 7:30pm). £10.00. ‘Chanson Française’. Fundraiser for Jesmond Community Orchard & Jesmond Library.

Sun 16: Jo Harrop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Duo performance.
Sun 16: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. ‘Jazz Sunday’ with special guest PETE TANTON.
Sun 16: Lorne Lofsky-Nigel Price Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Lofsky (guitar); Price (guitar); Jeremy Brown (double bass); Joel Barford (drums).
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: Lorne Lofsky-Nigel Price Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Lofsky (guitar); Price (guitar); Jeremy Brown (double bass); Joel Barford (drums).

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 17: Finn-Keeble Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

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

Friday, December 06, 2013

Rendezvous Jazz @ St Joseph’s, Birtley. December 5

Maureen Hall (vocals), Alan Smith (trumpet & flugelhorn), Don Fairley (trombone), Bill Brittain (keyboards), John Robinson (double bass) & George Davidson (drums & vocals)
(Review by Russell).
The first Arctic blast of winter, hailstones, snow flurries, the shortest day approaching. The long running Birtley Jazz Club opened its doors once again for the first Thursday in the month gathering of New Orleans/Dixieland fans. The CMS Club on Birtley Lane can count on the hardy few and they always turn out to hear Maureen Hall and Rendezvous Jazz.
Rosetta breathed life in to valves, tweaked bass strings and hamstrings. If the joint wasn’t exactly jumpin’ it got the joints moving. A couple of A-list deps – Don Fairley (trombone) and pianist Bill Brittain – answered the call, enabling Hall to keep the show on the road. Stalwart drummer George Davidson shared vocal duties with his bandleader. You Always Hurt the One You Love a highlight from Davidson. Hall provided highlight upon highlight – Dream, Nobody’s Sweetheart, Big Butter and Egg Man.
The band’s frontline knocked out classy solos. Seated on a highchair, trombonist Fairley, long since one of the north east’s finest, seemed to know all of the tunes – I guess he does. His every contribution hit the mark and the lean, towering figure of trumpeter Alan Smith alongside clearly enjoyed the pairing. Open, muted horn, occasional flugel, Smith led the line in style. Bill Brittain has been around the block a few times, Hall surely counts herself lucky to be able to call upon such a fine pianist. Wabash Blues and Canal Street Blues caught the ear, the latter number studded with excellent solos from Smith, Fairley and Brittain ably supported by the boys in the engine room (Davidson and the laconic John Robinson, double bass). Someday You’ll Be Sorry said Hall before she went looking for Bill Bailey.
You can find Maureen Hall and the boys at the Sandpiper in Cullercoats on Saturday (Dec 7, 8:30 pm) and if you can’t wait that long get along to the Black Horse in Monkseaton at one o’clock today (Friday). If you want a seat get there early, the session is doing great business.           
Russell. 
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