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

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Jazz Café Jam Session - June 16.

Mark Williams, Bradley Johnston (gtrs); Paul Grainger (bs); Paul Wight (dms) + Paul Gowland (alt); Stuart Finden (ten); Joe Fowler (tmb/vcl); Dan? (gtr); Andrew Porritt (bs); Dimi, Matt MacKellar, Eric Stutt, Ian Forbes (dms); Dawn Furness (pno/vcl).
(Review by Lance)
Even without the guiding hand of Peter Gilligan this was another cracking night at 'The Caff' with Mark Williams steering the ship in the absence of Pete G.
It began sedately enough with a tasty I'll Be Seeing You by Mark and a couple of the Pauls (Grainger and Wight) that drew the type of polite applause that usually follows a shot through the covers at the Oval - "Oh well played sir".
Indeed 'Well played' was a phrase that was theoretically, albeit more vociferously, applied throughout the evening as the sitters in took to the stand.
Stuart blew some fine tenor despite drums being 'not quite his tempo' On Green Dolphin Street.
Mark and Paul Gowland blew a tricky bop head (Au Privave?). Bradley was in and out whilst one of Mark's students, Dan, suggested by way of his solos that he too was moving up the jazz guitar league table.
Andrew Porritt played bass whilst McKellar, Stutt and Forbes kept the drum chair warm.
A new face! Dawn Furness played piano and sang Basin Street Blues which sounded good - next time guys, find her a mic then I guess you'll really hear something!
As I left, Joe Fowler was blowing trombone, sounded like he was also singing Work Song (not simultaneously).
Back on July 7 - put it in your diary now!
Photos.
Lance.

No comments :

Blog Archive