Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 2025

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

18083 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1047 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 14), 61.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. 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 Festival: Paul Skerritt Band.

Paul Skerritt (vcl); James Harrison (keys); John Pope (bs); Tom Chapman (dms).
(Review by Lance).
The forecast said "Hot" so it was on with the shades and off with the sweater. What they didn't mention was the bitter cold breeze that swept down Ashington's Station Rd for this open air, Ashington Jazz Festival gig.
Nevertheless, fortune shines on the brave and the Scope charity shop  was having a closing down sale - everything £1.
One warm sweater later I was ready - best £1 I've ever spent, particularly as the Paul Skerritt Band were thrown in free - sale of the century!
Despite the inclement weather and the acoustical vagaries associated with open air gigs, it was a cracking afternoon.
Paul was in good voice with James, Tom and dep bass John Pope at the top of their game.
Their usual program, standards and jazzified pops, is always entertaining not least because of the enthusiasm they show for the job in hand and the fact that they make it sound fresh every time.
So, we had; Come Fly With me; I'm Beginning to See the Light; Black and Gold; Don't Get Around Much Anymore; My Lonely Days Are Gone; All About the Bass; Cheek to Cheek; I Wanna Be Like You; It Con't Mean a Thing; Sway; I Feel good; American Boy/Girl; Orange Coloured Sky; Let the Good Times Roll - for the two latter numbers Paul went walkies including popping into a nearby boutique still singing!
As per he finished off with Play That Funky Music White Boy.
A splendid session and, would you believe it? driving back the sun started shining and I was stuck in a traffic jam!
Still, well worth it.
The festival concludes tomorrow night in the YMCA with the Strictly Smokin' Big Band.
Lance.

2 comments :

Paul Skerritt (on F/b) said...

Thanks Lance! And you are accurate, it was like a wind tunnel down there! Great fun though.

Peter S said...

Hi Lance, thanks for your accurate review on the afternoon event. this
windy city lived up to its reputation for variable weather conditions.
That apart the music was good.
Peter S.

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