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

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.

Sat 17: Homer’s Lane + John Garner & John Pope @ St John’s Church, Riding Mill. 2:00-4:00pm. Free. Gabriele Heller’s audio play + Garner & Pope.
Sat 17: Martyn Roper @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 5:00pm. Free. Roper’s ‘One Man Blues Band’.
Sat 17: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 17: Alexia Gardner Trio @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). Gardner, Alan Law & Jude Murphy.

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, March 06, 2014

CD Review: Emil de Waal+Gustaf Ljunggren; Søren Kjærgaard featuring Elith ”Nulle” Nykjær.

Emil de Waal (dms); Gustaf Ljunggren (gtr/ten); Søren Kjærgaard (pno); Elith ”Nulle” Nykjær (clt).
I have to confess that Scandinavian jazz hasn't, in recent years, always grabbed me. However, when my Danish contact Jesper - a man whose judgement I respect - waxes eloquent I take note - Lance.
Sometimes there is music that just takes one by surprise. And then suddenly you discover that you are not the only one who is taken in by these vibes, the spirit and sound of this recording. It even sounds too traditional to be true. Usually I wouldn’t see myself sitting here getting ready to send you this recording. But What Emil de Waal+ Gustaf Ljunggren and Søren Kjærgaard feat. Elith "Nulle" Nykjær did with ”Danish Jazz Album of the Year” 2013 is astonishing. Here We get so much jazz that they even play some of jazz's greatest compositions. Charles Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" and a medley of Ellington's "Such Sweet Thunder", "Purple Gazelle" and ”Very Special”. Stirred up with own compositions this is a 9 track travel into the pure enjoyment of music.
Emil de Waal + choose to ride in a musical track that does not exist. It is a recommended album for those who like music. It has just been awarded “Danish Jazz Album” of 2013 and is among most Danish critics “best of...” in 2013.
I hope you will embrace the music. Music that is so joyful is grounded in the spirit and tradition of what Danish jazz and its legacy is.
Jesper.
I've listened, took note and totally concur with the above. It's traditional and yet it's modern. This is no piss take but a sincere show of respect for the past and also a realisation that the past can also be the present and even the future.
Lance.
Emil de Waal+Gustaf Ljunggren; Søren Kjærgaard featuring Elith ”Nulle” Nykjær is available on itunes and Spotify.

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