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

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

RIP Richard Attenborough

We all remember Lord Richard Attenborough for his various roles in films such as The Great Escape and my personal favourite Brighton Rock (The remake didn't even come close) but Simon Spillett has drawn my attention to this still from the film All Night Long.
In the picture "Dickie" is on vibes next to Tubby Hayes (also on vibes) with Allan Ganley on the left of the shot. Somebody remind me who the bass player is? Mingus was in the film but it sure ain't him!
RIP Lord Attenborough, sadly missed.
Lance.
PS: He also did a pretty good job on mass murderer Christie in 10 Rillington Place...
PPS: Here's the opening ten minutes to All Night Long - sent by John Taylor.

6 comments :

Harry Monty said...

Hi Lance,

I think Kenny Napper was also playing himself in the film.

Best regards

Harry

Lance said...

You are correct Harry. However, I don't think that's Kenny in the photo.

John Forster (on f/b). said...

10 Rillington Place was horribly good.

Liz said...

yes that film was scary, in fact, it gave me nightmares..

Russell said...

Dickie and I go way back. One day, long ago on location in Durham Cathedral on the film set of Elizabeth , the days passed slowly (there was lots of sitting around as the crew set-up the next shot). Richard Attenborough, playing the part of Sir William Cecil, wandered over in full costume and said: Do you mind if I rest my weary legs? I motioned to Dickie to sit down. I too was in full costume (robe, big pointy hat and big XXX comedy stick-on beard) playing the part of a bishop. Of course, disguised as I was, Dickie didn’t recognise me. No matter, I recognised him. Within seconds we struck up a conversation. He guessed I was a football fan – either Newcastle or Sunderland. He was right, I was. I knew he supported Chelsea. We talked football and this and that. Some time later he was called to prepare for the day’s big scene – the one where the wonderful Cate Blanchett (as Elizabeth) makes a set-piece speech before the assembled noble lords and pointy-hatted bishops. Dickie bade me farewell. He didn’t know me from any other extra he’d chatted to in a lifetime in cinema but I knew he was Richard Attenborough.

Lance said...

Nominated for Best Supporting Role Wor Kid?

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