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

Friday, June 05, 2015

Ashington Jazz Club Celebrating Thirty Years Of Wonderful Music.

James Harrison (keyboard), Anthony Ord (bass), Tom Chapman (drums) and  Ray Dales (alto saxophone). (Review/photo by Peter S).
Ashington Jazz club was born in June of 1985 when a group of enthusiasts decided to meet on a monthly basis to listen to the music we love and so the dream began at the North Seaton Hotel now known as the Elephant.  No one could have believed then that 30 years on the Club would still be attracting great musicians to the town. To celebrate the achievement John Taylor suggested a mini Jazz Festival at locations across the town. With support from Ashington Council and with the direction and drive from John the Festival became a reality.
It was appropriate to arrange the first event at the AJC on the regular first Wednesday of the month of June. The James Harrison Trio accepted the invitation and introduced Saxophonist Ray Dales on his first visit. Never let it be said that in Jazz Music there is a shortage of respect among the young for the older generation of musicians. Throughout the development of the music there have been many small groups who have made an everlasting mark in influencing styles and tastes. To name but a few the small Goodman groups, Brubeck, M.J.Q., Shearing, Peterson, Manhatten Transfer and Davis all inspired positive responses from the listening public. There are many more we admire and applaud.
The James Harrison Trio – a collective of very young musicians have formed a good working relationship with Ray, 50+ years older and a blend of music like rum and coke. The respect for each other is evident and the joy of working together produced an exciting musical evening for all.  The quartet exploded onto our stage attacking the music with a grand opening tune. From that moment onwards the experience reverberated throughout the evening with excitement, crescendos and amazing improvisations. The participation of all the musicians in the most technical and lyrical compositions was breath taking. The energy and joy of performance was written on their faces and on behalf of AJC I applaud your contribution to a memorable evening for our CLUB.
Music – Secret Love, Summer Samba (so nice), There’ll Never be Another you, My Foolish Heart, Four, Sunny, That’s All, Misty, Our Day Will Come, Southern Samba, Blue Monk, St. Thomas, Cherokee.
Peter S.
Next Meeting Wednesday July 1st. At 8.00 p.m.   See you there.   

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