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

Monday, April 10, 2017

CD Review: Brian Molley Quartet - Colour and Movement

Brian Molley (tenor/soprano/flute/clarinets); Tom Gibbs (piano); Mario Caribé (double bass/guitar); Stu Brown (drums/perc.)
(Review/preview etc. by Lance)
I'm going to kill three birds with one stone here although, kill is far from my intention. Quite the opposite in fact!
A superb CD.
A gig close to home.
A gig not too far away.
Plus, There's also a gig a long way away.

So, starting at the very beginning, which Rodgers and Hammerstein would have us believe is a very good place to start (providing there's some 'Doh Re Mi' on the table) the Glaswegian Quartet have produced a brilliant new album - Colour & Movement. This, perhaps, takes Brubeck's Time Further Out concept even further out, but not so far out that it threatens to burn the pet shop inhabitants.
It's accessible, comprising 12 pieces, played in 12 different keys and in 12 different time signatures!
Nine of the tunes are originals, the other three being the Bricusse/Anthony Newley opus, Cheer Up Charlie; That Old Black Magic (Arlen/Mercer) and Duke's Solitude.
An absolute gem by four of Scotland's finest.
The quartet played the Globe back in June 2015. The audience wasn't large, but Mrs Brown's Boys were on at the nearby Arena and Kid Creole and the Coconuts were up the road at the Bowling club whilst the ubiquitous Paul Edis and Matt Anderson were at the Jazz Caff. Tough calls!. However, those that opted for the Brian Molley Quartet weren't disappointed and the Jazz Coop jumped at the chance of having them back which is happening on April 22. Don't miss out this time around otherwise you'll have to head north to the Hippodrome in Eyemouth over the border in Sturgeonland on April 29. Then, if you miss that one, you've got a bit more travelling to do - The Madras Jazz Festival in Chennai on June 3.
So what do you think? Newcastle, Scotland or India? Maybe a discount ticket for all three (Air India, National Express, Virgin Train or 22 bus fares not included).
Lance.
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