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

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.

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

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

Monday, March 17, 2014

Salsa Cafe Jazz Jam: Sunday March 16

Pete Gilligan (keys, drums); Steve Brown (bass guitar, keys); Joel Brown (keys); John Usher (guitar); Kay Usher (violin); Stuart Mckie (guitar); Stuart Findon (tenor sax, bass guitar); Fiona Findon (tenor sax, vocals); John Rowland (tenor sax); Paul Ruddick (alto sax);  Peter Ninnim (drums); Someone Else? (drums); Jenny Lingham (vocals); Ann Alex (vocals).
(Review by Ann Alex).
Readers will be able to tell from the above list that this was an informal, lively, thoroughly enjoyable session, with lots of mixing and matching, and people trying instruments that they don’t play so often.  I could maybe find myself on drums next time, so bring earplugs just in case. 
Sorry if I’ve missed anyone, but my excuse is that it was also a very sociable afternoon with lots of chatting, though that didn’t stop us from listening to some fine interpretations of standards such as Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me (Pete G totally on form, many solos, lovely constant whisk, whisk of cymbals); How High The Moon (led by a tenor sax); Ain’t Misbehavin’ (young Joel on keys cutting across with chords, less is more); Green Dolphin Street (sliding alto sax, contrasted with Stu’s more staccato tenor); All The Things You Are (Stu has switched to bass guitar); Pete back on keys for Fly Me To The Moon.  
We singers did our bit, Fiona with Softly As In A Morning Sunrise and a beautifully sung God Bless The Child, every word had meaning; I did Secret Love, which went well, with many solos, even from Pete on drums; Jenny did a skilled version of a difficult song, Speak Low.  One more tune from the band and that was it for another smashing week.        
Ann Alex.

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