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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 2025).

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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, September 04, 2018

Press Release - Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender (October 19-21)

The official press release for the forthcoming 'Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender", is posted below. The event celebrates the 40th anniversary of the now legendary Cleveland International Jazz Festival when Ayresome Park, then the home of Middlesbrough Football Club, figuratively changed the name of the stadium to Awesome Park - such was the array of star names that were featured on that memorable weekend in July 1978.
Sadly, the big bands of Lionel Hampton and Buddy Rich are no longer with us but NYJO still is. And, although George Melly, Ella Fitzgerald and Marian Montgomery have also passed on - along with Art Blakey, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Evans and Freddy Hubbard - Chris Barber is still around and will be featured on Saturday evening (October 20) with, for many, the highlight of the festival being the finale by the Mingus Big Band (pictured left). The full program is listed below in the official press release.
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(Press Release)
ARTISTS tipped for some of the music industry’s most prestigious awards will be wowing audiences in Middlesbrough next month.

Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender will showcase The National Youth Jazz Orchestra, newly reformed Tees Valley Youth Big Band and MOBO-nominated/Mercury Prize nominees Roller Trio on Friday, October 19 at Middlesbrough Town Hall.

Nominated for MOBO’s Best Jazz Act in its 17th award ceremony watched by over one million viewers, Roller Trio was also nominated for a Mercury Prize with their eponymous debut studio album in the same year.
Chris Sharkey, James Mainwaring and Luke Reddin-Williams make up this jazz/rock trio (picttured left).
Built from sound fragments of Leeds nightlife formed and reformed through the musical intelligence and instrumental brilliance of the three musicians it’s an exhilarating, rollicking ride.
The music is dark, gritty and urban - menacing bass lines underpinned by squalling improvising from guitar and sax - ’dark, menacing and bass heavy – the new sound of UK jazz’ according to BBC6 Music’s Giles Peterson.

The newly renovated Middlesbrough Town Hall also sees high-class acts such as Joe Lycett, Richard Ashcroft and Jason Manford on this year’s bill.

From Mercury Award nominee Laura Jurd to Grammy winner the Mingus Big Band, the Jazz Weekender programmed by Ros Rigby will run from Friday, October 19 to Sunday, October 21.

Friday’s programme will see Jazz North presents Alt-Shift-J as part of an initiative to involve more young people in jazz. The bands include Break Out Brass BandUbunyeBeats & Pieces Big Band and Roller Trio.

The National Youth Jazz Orchestra will be kicking off Saturday showcasing music from the likes of Guy BarkerMelba Liston and BBC Proms performer Laura Jurd.

Jurd’s ground-breaking band Dinosaur will take us into the Chris Barber Band and an evening of cabaret seated jazz with his ten-piece ensemble.

Sunday will have fun for the family with Family Jazz All-Stars and How To Make The Words Dance with Pete Churchill.

Sunday Afternoon Jazz in the Crypt will see performances by Later with Jools Holland star Hailey Tuck, AuroraThe Ushaw Ensemble and The Printmakers featuring ECM recording artist singer Norma Winstone.

The Jazz Weekender finale will be performed by the Mingus Big Band who picked up a Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in 2010.
The 14-piece band is known for ‘sheer melodic and rhythmic and structural originality’ according to the New Yorker.

  • Full details and tickets for all shows including Roller Trio are available from Middlesbrough Town Hall Box Office on 01642 729 729 or www.middlesbroughtownhall.co.uk

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