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

Thursday, November 03, 2016

CD Review: Jim Rattigan’s Pavillon – Strong Tea

(Review by Russell).
A former member of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Jim Rattigan recorded Strong Tea on the 11th October 2010. A twelve strong band, this ‘new’ album has been worth   waiting for. The French horn specialist hand picked the personnel, wrote the five tunes with them in mind and they have delivered the goods. Rattigan writes: I incorporate as much freedom in the music as is possible, leaving them space to express themselves. A good idea Mr Rattigan, the result is a resoundingly swinging album!

Having worked in jazz orchestras, Rattigan was inspired to form his own twelve piece band, calling it Pavillon. The musicians are ‘first call’ exponents of straight ahead jazz with that all important quality – the ability to swing. The rhythm section just can’t help swinging - no surprise there with the irrepressible Gene Calderazzo on drums alongside bassist Dave Whitford. Soloists are credited in the CD liner notes: Andy Panayi (tenor) and Percy Pursglove (flugelhorn) on Dulwich Park, Martin Speake (alto saxophone) and Steve Fishwick (trumpet) on the title track. Each contribution is top quality, the ensemble playing top drawer. Rattigan’s own playing sparkles, not least on Won Over the Eight. A nod to the Jimmy Giuffre Trio surfaces on Dulwich Park, and an association with Carla Bley and others has, perhaps, informed Rattigan’s approach to composition.
Strong Tea has a running time of forty minutes. So good is it that another forty minutes would have been most welcome.             
Russell.
Jim Rattigan (French horn), Martin Speake (alto saxophone), Andy Panayi (tenor saxophone), Mick Foster (baritone saxophonist), Percy Purseglove (trumpet & flugelhorn), Steve Fishwick (trumpet), Robbie Robson (trumpet), Jeremy Price (tenor trombone), Sarah Williams (bass trombone), Hans Koller (piano), Dave Whitford (bass) & Gene Calderazzo (drums)

Strong Tea by Jim Rattigan’s Pavillon is released on Friday 4 November on Pavillon Records (002). Rattigan tours the album beginning at the EFG London Jazz Festival at the Vortex on November 12 with further dates into next year. Highly recommended – CD and tour. For further information visit: www.jimrattigan.com

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