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

Wednesday, April 05, 2017

GIJF Day 3: Family Jazz All Stars with Zoë Gilby @ Sage Gateshead - April 2

Zoë Gilby (vocals), Mark Williams (guitar), Andy Champion (double bass) & Richard Brown (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Are you sitting comfortably? 11:00am Sunday morning, the Northern Rock Foundation Hall, Sage Gateshead. A fun and educational concert for the younger jazz fan…one such, Libby, age 6, and another youngster, age 6½ (keen to emphasise the ½), were but two prize winners during an hour of fun and games with Zoë Gilby’s ‘Family Jazz All Stars’. Well behaved grown-ups were welcome to attend if accompanied by a younger jazz fan. Early Sunday perhaps, nevertheless there was a sizeable turn out to hear Zoë Gilby sing songs and conduct a quiz. This Sunday morning jazz fans won prizes!

The ‘Family Jazz All Stars’ are known to all as Gilby, Mark Williams, Andy Champion and Richard Brown. Devised as a concert for the younger listener, the show received favourable reviews when staged at last year’s London Jazz Festival. Now, the north east-based quartet presented the show on home ground at Sage Gateshead. Gilby engaged with the young listener, asking a question, to which a correct answer would be sought at the end of a song. Pointing to one of Richard Brown’s cymbals, Gilby wondered if anyone knew what it was. The young jazz fans in the audience knew the answer. At the conclusion of the song a forest of hands shot into the air. A young jazz fan said: Cymbal! Well done! The older jazz fans didn’t have a clue, so, the youngsters scooped every prize going.
The songs Gilby sang included In It Together, the scary Red Right Hand (a prize offered, and won, for the scariest dance!) and Is It Me?  The Family Jazz All Stars is an entertaining package offering something for everyone – visit: www.zoegilby.co.uk

Russell.

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