Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 2026

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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 bf.

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, May 22, 2014

Something for everyone at Newcastle Jazz and Blues

I was so excited when I received the following press release. However my enthusiasm was somewhat dampened after I read the first sentence... 
Over 75 live bands will take over a town centre this weekend to show off their talents in the Newcastle-under-Lyme Jazz & Blues Festival.
This year there are quality acts from around the UK and even as far afield as Greece and the USA, amid a hand-picked selection of the best local talent.
The gigs will take place over the bank holiday weekend in 17 venues across town and most are free entry. This year gigs will take place in locations you would less expect – such as the market square on Saturday at 12pm, and the Roebuck Shopping Centre lobby, as well as people’s favourite venues around town.
But the event is not just for music fanatics. There will be plenty for people of all walks of life and the whole family to enjoy. On Sunday there will be a craft and artisan market featuring a host of handmade and specialist products, as well as funfair rides for the kids and the chance to join in free ‘jitterbug’ dance workshops at the Missoula bar at 3pm.
And on bank holiday Monday, there will be a charity market and fun day with a host of stalls and fun activities to entertain the family.
Town Centre Manager Matt Taylor said:
“The Town Centre Partnership has worked with licensees to make this a really great event, with a programme which is genuinely packed with quality jazz and blues.
“From the second the festival kicks off with the Remi Harris Trio through to when The Funkbreakers play the final slot, there is a non-stop line-up of talent which just should not be missed by music fans.
“There are also a few performances which blur the edges of the genre to keep everyone happy, although this year we have taken the festival back to its Jazz and Blues theme on the whole”.
To help bring in new talent from further afield and broaden the horizons of the festival, the Town Centre Partnership has also been working with Big Bear Music which is responsible for the Birmingham Jazz and Blues festival. Representative from Big Bear Music Jim Simpson said:
“Birmingham Jazz Festival is now in its 30th year and it is a pleasure to bring some of what we have learned to help Newcastle deliver such a fantastic event.
“We are very much looking forward to enjoying what can only be described as a great programme in action in the town’s venues this weekend”.
Newcastle Borough council is also supporting the event with free parking on all council car parks and on-street charging zones over the Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
For the full festival guide, go to www.newcastlejazzandblues.co.uk 
Maybe next year we can substitute "under-Lyme" with "upon-Tyne"?
Lance.

1 comment :

Jim Fay (on F/b) said...

Ooops!

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