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

18122 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1086 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 31), 100

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 07: FILM: Blue Moon @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Dir. Richard Linklater’s biopic of Lorenz Hart.
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.

Thu 08: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones of 1976.

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.

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, December 25, 2014

So how did you spend Xmas Day?

Usual, turkey, vino, Kiss Me Kate on TV (if only I hadn't seen the Keel/Grayson movie first!) digging into my back catalogue of CDs - Harold McNair's Flute & Nut (the best flute disc ever - plus some tasty alto). Another late great Jamaican, tenor player Bogey Gaynor's Blue Bogey. Laughing at the jokes in Nick Harris's Have You Heard The One About... enjoying reading Herbie Hancock's autobiography Possibilities whilst tucking into some Belgium chocolates and, I'm pleased to say, not wearing a Xmas jumper!
So how was it for you?
Lance.

6 comments :

Roly said...

Just the usual socialising, lazing around and eating too much but as regards jazz I have a CD playing in the car 'These Rooms' with Jim Hall & Tom Harrell. A lovely CD. On it is a ballad composed by Jim's wife Jane titled 'Something Tells Me' and its a gem.

Phil John Kelly (on f/b) said...

Bill Evans on CD. Made a curry, drank a lot of Cava, port, Old Speckled Hen. Jaques Loussier concert on You Tube. Yuletide Blessings, Lance

Russell said...

Made a curry, drank a bottle of wine (me, a beer drinker!), listened to some Stan Kenton, read Chris Barber's autobiography 'Jazz Me Blues', ate some chocolate...

Patti D. said...

Drank a demi bottle of champagne with son, Chris - while listening to Zoot Sims, Darlene Love, and John Grant. Opened pressies, cooked traditional turkey and stuff, more drinks then huge amounts of food. Sounds typical? I also went out for a half marathon run ..... do you believe me? It's always a magical time of the year for me.

Ann Alex said...

I spent Xmas day at my niece's house and heard no jazz at all, but did talk about One Direction with her 11 year old daughter! A lovely family day, rounded off with the 'The Hunger Games' an excellent film.

Liz said...

I spent the morning walking on the Sussex Downs with my son, his partner and their dogs( named Jazz and Blues) Then we came back & opened our presents. Champagne, turkey etc for the big meal in the afternoon with great surround sound music playing in every room. Evening watched Downton Abbey( having recorded "Kiss me Kate" for another time!

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