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, November 04, 2015

Jazz Café Jam Session - Nov. 3

Steve Glendinning (gtr); Stu Finden (bs); Paul Wight (dms/vcl) + Fiona Finden (vcl); Marek Podstawek (dms/vcl/melodica); Matthew MacKellar (dms); Dawn Furness (pno/vcl); Bradley Johnston (gtr); Bob Smeaton (pno); John Pope (bs).
(Review by Lance)
Tonight jazz lived up to Whitney Balliett's oft quoted description as The Sound of Surprise. There were a few!
It all began quite sedately with a different house trio to that of recent weeks. Not that this was a Capital Cup selection, Glendinning, Wight and saxophonist Stu (on bass this week) all ace players.
All Blues; Stella by Starlight; Polka Dots and Moonbeams; All the Things You Are set the scene for Fiona to chant What is This Thing Called Love and You Don't Know What Love is. Also on stage was a different drummer who knew a thing or two. This was Marek Podstawek a Polish musician, living in Australia but passing through Newcastle, check him out playing drums on YouTube  and on keyboards. 
Young Matt MacKellar took over on drums for Four and Triste but our Polish visiter wasn't done yet!
With Dawn Furness occupying the piano stool he joined in on melodica for Night and Day then an amazing vocal chorus or two on the same tune. This incorporated a scatting blast - at least I think it was scat, it may have been Polish! Multi talented guy.
More talent when Bradley took over on guitar for Have You Met Miss Jones; Wave and Things Ain't What They Used to be.
More surprises. A new pianist - new to Newcastle that is - Bob Smeaton from York. Liz, our lady in York tells me Bob is a friend of her brother, guitarist Ron Goodall. Wish I'd had the opportunity to chat with him. When I heard the traditional piano intro to Nina Simone's My Baby Just Cares For me I wondered who was going sing it. Paul Wight, no less! He did good! As did Bob on piano. Fiona returned for a blast on Bernie's Tune, Dawn sang Bye Bye Blackbird and John Pope went on bass for Beautiful Love and I went for the bus - no reflection on the music.
Another amazing evening!
Photos.
Lance.
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