Bebop Spoken There

Melissa Aldana: ''Having to play a ballads album, which is something very revealing for a saxophone player, would help me to question some new aspects of how to go deeper into sound." (DownBeat May, 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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

From This Moment On

May

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Miles Davis & His Favourite Musicians.
Thu 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 28: Bobby Rush @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. + bf. Veteran USA bluesman.
Thu 28: Squabble @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 28: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.

Sat 30: Giles Strong Quartet @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £1.50 bf.

Sun 31: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 31: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 31: Sinfonia of London: Tea Dance @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. Free. John Wilson ensemble performing on the concourse. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin & more.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 31: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 31: Ben Haskins Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

June

Mon 01: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 01: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Mon 01: CW Stoneking @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Blues, Americana.

Tue 02: Mark Williams Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00.
Tue 02: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.
Tue 02: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 03: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 03: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 03: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Gala Theatre, Durham – Lunchtime Gigs Spring 2016

January 15 – Zoe Gilby Quartet
Zoë Gilby is a jazz vocalist and songwriter that has been making a real impression on the jazz scene today. A repertoire starting with her compelling original compositions written with double bassist husband Andy Champion and performed by her highly accomplished band, guitarist Mark Williams and drummer Richard Brown. Her stockpile of music reaches a wide range of more contemporary material from composers such as Pink Floyd to Kate Bush. Also included are some superb interpretations of “The Great American Songbook”
Her influences include Carmen McRae, Sheila Jordan, Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell
Twice she has received touring support from Jazz Services and has performed with some of the UK top jazz musicians, including Jim Mullen Organ Trio, Dave Newton, Alan Barnes and Tony Faulkner.
February 12Graeme Wilson Quartet
As good as it gets” – Bebop Spoken Here
"Ceaselessly original and imaginative" - Schmazz website
This band is all about heartfelt improvisation on idiosyncratic tunes that stay with you. The players infuse driving jazz and latin rhythms or ambient swing with their various enthusiasms including folk and rock ballads, free jazz and the dancefloor. Their original material explores unusual meters and structures as vehicles for angular and passionate solos, with narrative melodies resonant enough to evoke a strong sense of place and time.
March 4 - James Birkett and Bradley Johnston Duo
From Eddie Lang, through Django Reinhardt, to Pat Metheny and beyond, the guitar continues to have a universal appeal. James and Bradley present a programme of music by some of the most influential players of the last hundred years taking the audience on a musical journey which moves from early jazz and blues, through swing and bebop, to cool and contemporary jazz.
April 8 – Graham Hardy and Paul Edis Duo
Graham Hardy is an extremely versatile and talented Trumpeter, composer andarranger, well known on the local scene as a sideman in the Sue Ferris Quintet, the Paul Edis Sextet and the Mick Shoulder Quintet as well as leading his own band the Northern Monkey Brass Band. He teams up for this gig with Paul Edis, described as a brilliant young pianist(Alyn Shipton, The Guardian) to perform a concert that includes music by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis alongside original material from the duo.
All concerts are 1-2pm, £4 from the box office 

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