Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

From This Moment On

September.

Fri 02: Alison Gill + Markrokosmos @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music (NFOJAIM).SOLD OUT!
Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Gilby & Hunter + Andy Champion @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 6:00pm. NFOJAIM. SOLD OUT!
Fri 02: Abbie Finn Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. The Abbie Finn Trio augmented by Dean Stockdale (piano).
Fri 02: Alexia Gardner Trio @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 02: Zoe Rahman Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 8:00pm. NFOJAIM. SOLD OUT!

Sat 03: New Orleans Ragtime Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. Gavin Lee & co.
Sat 03: Anemone Quartet + Jeepe Zeeburg @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. NFOJAIM.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Caravan. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Free. Excellent blues band.
Sat 03: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.50 (inc. bf). Two sets: 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. ‘Swing Band Dance Night’.
Sat 03: Olie Brice Quartet + Alexander Hawkins + Harper Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:00pm. NFOJAIM.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 04: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Heugh Battery, Hartlepool. 11:00am-12 noon & 1:00-2:00pm.
Sun 04: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 04: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Bill Watson (trumpet).
Sun 04: Sax Choir w. Rachel Musson @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Rivkala + Ceitidh Mac + Thatcher & Knowles @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. A NFOJAIM event.
Sun 04: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. RESCHEDULED from September 27.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £3.00.

Mon 05: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Amphitrio @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm. £8.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Sunday, July 06, 2014

Djangologie @ Ashington Jazz Club July 2

Emma Fisk  (Violin), James Birkett (Guitar),  Giles Strong (Guitar), Mick Shoulder (Bass).
(Review by Peter S.)
The spirit of Django and the flavour of the Hot Club de France returned to the AJC for the July meeting        when the popular Djangologie  took our stage  to deliver a menu of exquisite  music which  appealed to the  members' taste buds.  The popularity of this quartet attracted some first time visitors to the Elephant who were welcomed by the regular patrons and they did not leave disappointed. A good and lively audience warmly responded to the instrumental programme with passion and enthusiasm. 
As the evening progressed their appetite and eagerness to hear more was rewarded with each new course.  Approval was more than justified. Mick’s command of French may have greatly improved as most items were introduced in that “romantic” language but to tell you the truth I couldn’t understand a word of it.  Fortunately his Durham humour in advance of the melodies conveyed the essence of the music and I was pleased to be given a copy of the written programme which eased my anxieties. This group never fails to give pleasure and each instrument offers many surprises and  it was not unexpected when our audience gave a standing ovation at the finale.  
It is truly a delight to have in our region musicians of the calibre of Emma , James, Giles and Mick who work so well together as a unit reproducing the music of Django and Stephane. We thank them for appearing in down town   Ashington (The Hirst).  John Taylor awarded James B. with a certificate, a first for the Club, as he announced that Jim and his guitar had supported AJC for 25 Years appearing for the First time on December 1, 1989. John “Jazz” is quite an historian on Jazz N.E. as a collector of memorabilia and added to the certificate the report on that event from the Morpeth Herald. James was surprised and I think a little shocked but we all thank him for his services to the most Northerly Jazz Club in  England.  I must mention finally the contribution by the two Bilboa Dancers.
PROGRAMME (with apologies for mis-spelling)…Dinah, Mon Premiere Guitar, Fuille D’Automne, Hunn O Pani Naschella, Cigano Bolero,  Songe D’Automne, Artillerie Lourdes, Stompin’ at Decca, Minor Swing, Blues for Dr. , Song for Izumi, Beautiful till 3, Swing 39, Veisha No Drom, Silapa Swing Mire Pral, Dark Eyes.  (Well I did try.)
NEXT MEETING – Paul Skerritt (excellent vocalist in Sinatra and Bublé style) with his young but superb Trio.  Wednesday, August  6th. At 8.00 p.m. The Elephant. See you there.
Peter S. 
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1 comment :

Peter S said...

Thanks once again for publishing the Review. This looks so much better when you have added colour.
Your Blog continues to give the Jazz punters more info than they could ever wish for and it is respected
across the region and beyond. The time and effort you put into the web site does not go unnoticed.

Tuesday, July 08, 2014 7:15:00 am

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