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

Saturday, February 04, 2017

Polly Parlourphone Trio @ the Prohibition Bar, Gateshead - February 3

Polly Parlourphone (vocal); Adam Sams (guitar); John Tilbury (bass guitar).
(Review by Lance).
Was I in Gateshead or was I in 1920's Chicago? On the south side, the New Century Ragtime Orchestra were entertaining the flappers at Caedmon Hall whilst over on the east side, in the Prohibition Bar, the top-hatted, skirtless Miss Polly Parlourphone tread the path pioneered by Ruth Etting, Annette Hanshaw, Helen Kane and Marlene  Dietrich. Indeed Frau Dietrich was the inspiration behind the outfit (film: The Blue Angel).
A rich contralto voice, Polly encapsulated the era to perfection with a choice selection of songs interpreted with much authenticity.
Lots of bo-boop-a-doing, theatrical gestures and pouting lips spread over 3  x 20-minute sets kept the audience captivated by her stage presence.
Ably assisted by Adam Sams on guitar and John Tilbury on Epiphone violin (viola?) Hofner style bass; two guys who did the business both solo-wise and in support, the evening just flew past.
First set: Hello my Baby; Why Don't You do Right?; I Wanna be Loved by You; Steam Rollin' Baby (I think); Don't be Like That.   
Second Set: Summertime (at last, an original take!); The Things I Love; Going Where the Cold Wind Blows; I Loves You Porgy; Lilli Marlene (I kid you not!)
Third Set: I Love my Baby; Falling in Love Again; They Can't Take That Away From me; Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen; Bella Ciao (Italian song sung in German!)
Encore: When You're Smiling.
The trio, who've been together for less than a year, are worth watching out for. Catch them when next they're in action (watch this space).
Lance.
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