Bebop Spoken There

Ethan Hawke (starring as Lorenz Hart in Blue Moon): ''Larry [Lorenz] Hart would be so happy that his music and his words and his poetry are still alive.'' - The Northern Echo 27 November 2025

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

18000 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 964 of them this year alone and, so far, 73 this month (Nov. 24).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sun 07: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. special guest Donna Hewitt (sax, clarinet).
Sun 07: Finn-Keeble Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 07: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 07: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 07: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Trio + Ruth Lambert.
Sun 07: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 07: Jason Isaacs Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 5:15pm (4:00pm doors). £21.50 (inc. bf).
Sun 07: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 07: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Support set from Play More Jazz! course participants. Note earlier start.

Mon 08: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 09: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm

Wed 10: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 10: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 10: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 10: Mike Lindup Jazz Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £26.50 (inc. bf). Lindup, Yolanda Charles (bass), John Sam (drums).
Wed 10: Bold Big Band @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00.

Thu 11: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: West Coast (cool ) / Wordsearch (cool) Cool Jazz or ‘Cold’, ‘Cool’, ‘Hot’, ‘Warm’ in the title or lyrics.
Thu 11: George Robinson @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £5.42 (inc. bf). Vienna’s Voice charity evening featuring ’15 year old singing sensation the ‘Redcar Crooner’ George Robinson’. Over 35s only.
Thu 11: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. back tapes.
Thu 11: Ransom Van @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 11: Down for the Count Swing Orchestra @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:30pm. £37.70 (inc. bf). ‘Swing into Xmas’.

Fri 12: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 12: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 12: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 12: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ Northumberland Club, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £15.00. ‘Xmas Soiree’.
Fri 12: A Jazzy Xmas @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax, soprano sax); Matthew Forster (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 12: Tony Hadley: Xmas Big Band Tour 2025 @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Fri 12: Alexia Gardner @ The New Ship Inn, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. 8:00pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy, Abbie Finn. CANCELLED!
Fri 12: Jive Aces: Swingin’ Xmas Show @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 8:00pm.

Sat 13: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).
Sat 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 13: Teresa Watson Band @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sat 13: Washboard Resonators @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).
Sat 13: Salty Dog @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:45pm. Americana, blues, jazz.
Sat 13: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).

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

Monday, May 02, 2016

Where Has Ann Alex Got To?

Readers may have missed me [that's me between Sarah Travena and Ian Shaw - Claire Kelly far right] from BSH in recent weeks (or not?) so I thought I’d better explain my absence. I’ve been struck down with what one doctor called an ‘Angry Gallstone’ and I’ve spent a week in hospital, to which I’m returning within the month, for removal of my gall bladder.  This meant that I missed the GIJF and also loads of good things at the Globe. 
However I’ve managed to keep Body And Soul together and I Ain’t Misbehavin’, as I eat very low fat just now. All of Me occasionally aches, so I Don’t Get Around Much Any More, and each morning I say to myself Lady Be Good. It’s not a bad as having a Fever. I’d go out more but we’ve had some Stormy Weather lately. I’m looking  forward to the time after the operation when there’ll be No More Blues and I’ll declare that  It’s Alright With Me.
Amazing what you can do with song titles. I’d love other readers to come up with even better examples.
Ann Alex

9 comments :

The LondonJazz site said...

Straighten Up and Fly Right. All the best for a speedy and complete recovery. Seb

Lance said...

I bumped into "My Old Flame" "On the Street Where You Live". I asked her, "What's New?" She said, "I'm Getting Married in the Morning". I said, "Congratulations" then decided I must "Take the A Train". I got off at Lonely St. and headed for "Heartbreak Hotel"

Liz said...

After your operation, it'll be "So nice to come home to , so nice by the fire"...

Anonymous said...

From Ann Alex, Thanks so much Seb for the good wishes. I love that song title, I suppose it comes from WW2, a message to pilots. And Lance, I hope that's not the story of your life!

Anonymous said...

I think Straighten Up and Fly Right is about kicking the habit!

Facebook comments said...

Jude Murphy Get well soon, Ann x
Like · Reply · 11 hrs
Emma Fisk
Emma Fisk Hope you'll be back on The Sunny Side of the Street very soon Ann!x
Like · Reply · 10 hrs
Patti Durham
Patti Durham Oh yes ..... and Let the Sunshine In - tomorrow, anyway. You'll soon be Bouncing Around! xx
Like · Reply · 10 hrs
Eric Mckenzie Stutt
Eric Mckenzie Stutt Chin up Chuck!! x
Like · Reply · 10 hrs
Mary Bollands
Mary Bollands · Friends with Kath Jobes and 2 others
Sorry to hear that Ann. You must have been Bewitched,bothered and bewildered! Get well soon xx
Like · Reply · 9 hrs
CiCi Sparks
CiCi Sparks Get well soon Ann. But you know that Sarah Travena not Claire Martin right? Unless you're referring to me then I WISH I was Claire Martin haha. Sending healing vibes.
Like · Reply · 2 hrs
Lance Liddle
Lance Liddle That was my fault - I should have went to Specsavers!
Like · Reply · Just now

Liz said...

Ann as "Spring will be a little late this year," when you get back home it's sure to be "Summertime"

Anonymous said...

From Ann Alex. Thanks to all of you for the good wishes and the fun of the song titles!

Russell said...

Are you going to St James Infirmary? It could be The Last Dance, one thing is for sure, There’ll Never Be Another You (phew!). On your return to the folk/jazz scene you could quote Oscar Brown Jnr - Excuse Me For Livin’ and suggest Somebody Buy Me a Drink. That’s assuming it isn’t a case of After You’ve Gone!

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