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

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.

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).

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

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Painting a Picture at Ushaw

(Preview by Russell/images by Dave Barden)
Dave Barden will be working at this week’s Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival. The Hexham-based artist will be on site getting an up-close view of the musicians, making preparatory sketches and taking photographs with the final results to emerge from his studio base at a later date. The former Head of Fine Art at the then Newcastle Polytechnic has had a life-long interest in music. Jazz, blues and other popular genres continue to attract the artist’s attention and it will be fascinating to observe Barden working up close to his subject.
Dave Barden enjoys an international reputation. Two subject areas are music and sport. A commission to work at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics yielded several paintings and a visit to the 2012 London Olympics proved equally productive. The artist’s work is represented in public, private and corporate collections including Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham and JD Wetherspoon’s Union Rooms in Newcastle. Barden is no stranger to jazz festivals having worked at Gateshead International Jazz Festival and Southport Jazz Festival. The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle, hosted an exhibition of his music (jazz!) related paintings. At Ushaw College festival goers will be able to view an exhibition of the artist’s work. Some paintings will be available for purchase.     
Jazz will be Dave Barden’s focus during the inaugural 2016 Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival staged at Ushaw College. A former seminary, the magnificent buildings on a vast country estate on the outskirts of Durham are worth seeing in their own right. The fact that jazz of international quality will be heard over three days (26-28 August) makes a visit essential!
Alan Barnes, Bruce Adams, Nigel Price, Zoé Gilby, the Peter Gilligan Trio, the Paul Edis Trio and many more makes this a festival offering something for everyone.
   
Jazz, an artist in residence, food and drink, an architectural gem, rolling County Durham countryside, fine weather (fingers crossed!), the 2016 Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival is one event you mustn’t miss. Tickets from 0191 334 5119 or visit: www.ushaw.org      
Russell.               

1 comment :

Jo Edis (on F/b) said...

Wow- wish we were there! Thanks Russell and Lance Liddle we expect to see so many reviews- thanks for all you do!

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