Bebop Spoken There

Warne Marsh: "At some point, you have to be prepared to create—to perform. It's vital, man, if we're talking about jazz, the original jazz, the performing art. It fulfils its meaning only when you play it live in front of an audience." DownBeat January 1983.

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

18191 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 45 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 14), 45

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Thu 22: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: 2025 obituaries.
Thu 22: Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Thu 22: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta. @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm (doors). £6.50 (inc. bf).

Fri 23: Sue Ferris Quintet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 23: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 24: An Evening with Will Todd @ Durham Cathedral. 7:30pm. Feat. Voices of Hope, Strictly Smokin’ Big Band (members of) & Alice Grace. Performance inc. Todd’s Jazz Missa Brevis. £25.50., £13.50., £19.50., £10.50.

Sun 25: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 25: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Alexia Gardner Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

Mon 26: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 27: Pete Roth Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:30pm. Feat. Bill Bruford.

Wed 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 28: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 28: Mama Terra @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.08 (inc. bf).
Wed 28: James Hunter Six @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £28.50. adv. Rhythm & blues.
Wed 28: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, 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

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

RIP Jon Hiseman (1944-2018)

Earlier today (June 12), the news broke that drummer, Jon Hiseman, had passed away due to brain cancer. Best known in jazz circles for his work with his wife, saxophonist Barbara Thompson, in two versions of Colosseum and Thompson's Paraphernalia with whom I was thrilled to see him in concert at the Peoples Theatre in Newcastle in 1985. Unfortunately, from where I was sitting, the surreptitious photo I took came out with Jon's head obscured by a cymbal. It was also the most amazing drumkit I'd seen up to that time - apart from Eric Delaney with his kettle drums that is.
He was a phenomenal player and on a par with any of the players on either side of the jazz-rock divide.
Jon Hiseman was 73. He will be sadly missed.
Obituary.
Lance.

1 comment :

Peter Bevan said...

Sorry to see your report on Jon Hiseman's death.
I've always rated his work with the United Jazz + Rock Ensemble very highly but never got the chance to hear them live.
I did catch him with Paraphernalia on four occasions which might be worth mentioning in case it jogs anyone else's memories:
Oct 1986 Darlington Arts Centre - part of the First Darlington Jazz Festival
Feb 1992 Dovecot Arts Centre, Stockton
Oct 1992 Inn Off the Park, Middlesbrough Jazz Society
Oct 2000 Arc, Stockton

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