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

Friday, November 20, 2015

CD Review: Maciek Pysz - A Journey


A reminder of tomorrow night at The Globe.
Maciek Pysz (gtr); Daniele di Bonaventura (bandoneon/pno); Yuri Goloubev (bs); Asaf Sirkis (dms).
(Review by Lance).
If this record is anything to go by, every guitar enthusiast in the north east will be heading for the Globe Jazz Bar, Newcastle, on Saturday Nov. 21 when the Jazz Coop present the outstanding Polish guitarist Maciek Pysz in concert. This is a major coup for the Coop and I can't visualise anyone wanting to miss it. If you can't make it (like you're in jail or on an Antarctic expedition) then this album is a good substitute for the real thing. But, be warned, once you've played it you'll want to be there anyway!
The Globe gig is actually a trio gig which means the bandoneon/piano of Bonaventura will be missing. This is both good news and bad news. the bad news is that the bandoneon, so effective here, will be absent. The good news is that it means we'll hear more of Maciek Pysz (don't ask me for a pronunciation!) and that is good news as he is one of the most melodic and innovative guitarists I've heard for many a year. Gouloubev handles the bass duties well and, with Sirkis on kit, what could go wrong?
Answer, nothing!
All the compositions, bar one, are by the leader and they are as melodic and harmonically  satisfying as his solos.
A Journey, Maciek says, is a blend of his experiences and emotions travelling through Europe. Some of the titles are intriguing - I Saw you Again. Perhaps a chance glimpse of a former lover/friend with someone else? Until Next Time... Peacefully Waiting... Coming Home... 
Hopefully he will relate the story behind these titles on November 21. In the meantime just sit back and enjoy this delicious offering of musical delicacies.
Lance

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