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

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.

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.

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 07, 2015

RIP Barry Soulsby

More sad news - Barry Soulsby, clarinetist, saxist and singer with Vieux Carré Jazzmen, Rendezvous Jazz and, over the years, many other bands, died at 8am yesterday.
More details when available.
Barry was 73
Sadly missed.
Lance.
at

5 comments :

Steve Andrews (on F/b) said...

Sorry to hear that, Lance. I knew Barry for many years and played tenor in his band at Balmbra's Music Hall (the Saratoga Jazzmen) in 1972, alternating weeks with trombonist Brian Chester, who worked night shifts every two weeks. He was a nice man. My condolences to his family.

Thursday, May 07, 2015 9:50:00 am
Brian Bennett said...

Yes, very sad news indeed and a great loss to our local jazz scene - one of those rare breeds (like Herbie Hudson and Steve Andrews) that combine great jazz musicianship with showmanship - they light up a stage. Barry's vocals such as 'Tain't no sin to take off your skin (and dance around in your bones!); Willie the Weeper; Ace in the Hole; etc., were loved by audiences. All the local bands he was involved with will miss his unique musical ability and personality.

Thursday, May 07, 2015 11:24:00 am
carstairs said...

Another nice man, personally and musically, sadly passed on. I've played many a gig with him in various bands, highlights being the Band Of Brothers ( Rea, McBriarty, Soulsby, and one half of the Hallam twins) or the clarinet duets or trios at the Crescent Club on Mondays. Even a bit of Skiffle when he brought his guitar.
He was also an accomplished classical musician. In fact an all-round person who will be greatly missed.

Thursday, May 07, 2015 12:45:00 pm
CCJAZZMEN said...

This was quite a shock, over the last few years on my visits, I have had so much fun playing along side Barry, and was looking so much forward to doing the same this year. My clarinet player from Ned Kelly's Franco Valussi, loved playing a duet with him with the Vieux Carre Jazzmen just last July, and told me Barry has so much soul in his playing. A wonderful clarinet player, who was also full of humor, and I will deeply miss that big smile on his face, when I used to walk into the room.
R.I.P

Colin Aitchison
Hong Kong

Friday, May 08, 2015 6:18:00 am
Unknown said...

Rip,Barry will miss your face in Cramlington.

Sunday, May 31, 2015 10:17:00 pm

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