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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

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.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. 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

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Tonight @ The Gala Theatre Durham

The Ronnie Scott’s Story
Featuring the Ronnie Scott’s Club Quintet
UK TOUR
12th May - Durham, Gala Theatre
22nd May - Chelmsford, The Civic Theatre
24th June - Wimborne, Tivoli Theatre
6th – 10th July - Henley-on-Thames Henley Festival
17, 24 & 31 July - York, Great Yorkshire Fringe
29th July - Kings Lynn Festival, Norfolk
In 1959, saxophonist Ronnie Scott opened the door to a small basement club in London’s Soho.    An ardent jazz fan, he and fellow saxophonist Peter King had dreamt of opening a club modelled on the swinging jazz clubs and buzzing scene of New York’s 52nd Street.  From its humble beginnings fifty six years ago, Ronnie Scott’s would become one of the most famous jazz joints in the world. 
The Ronnie Scott’s Story is a visual and musical celebration of the club’s extraordinary history.  Combining live jazz, narration and rare archive video footage, it charts the club's rise from a basement bar, through its trials & tribulations and landmark  performances from jazz icons, to become the internationally acclaimed jazz venue it is today.
We hear about the desperate hand-to-mouth finances of the early years, the frequent Soho police raids, gangsters and their scrapes with the Krays and the mystery bottle of Champagne.   Life at Ronnie’s is evocatively reimagined through tales of the club’s past visitors, from pop stars, film stars and politicians to comedians and royalty, but above all, Ronnie’s jokes and the musicians.
Having fought to lift a ban on visiting American musicians, Ronnie Scott’s would play host to some of the finest musical talent of the 20th century including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Dizzie Gillespie, Horace Silver, Elvin Jones, Buddy Rich, Count Basie, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, Ella Fitzgerald and many, many more.  Co-hosted by saxman Alex Garnet and Ronnie Scott’s Musical Director, pianist James Pearson, The Ronnie Scott’s Club Quintet perform music by many of the great acts that have graced the clubs stage, exemplifying the classic post-bop sound of the great era of jazz.
Featuring, James Pearson Piano, Sam Burgess Bass, Alex Garnett Sax, Freddie Gavita Trumpet and Chris Higginbottom Drums.

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