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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 07: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

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, October 15, 2018

Preview: The Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender – October 19-21

(Preview by Russell) 
Forty years ago something remarkable happened in the jazz world. George Wein’s world famous Newport Jazz Festival upped sticks, moving lock, stock and barrel to the unlikely location of Middlesbrough, England. Ayresome Park, then home to the town’s football club, welcomed the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and the MJQ. In 1978 Andy Hudson was a key figure on the regional jazz scene and it was his crazy idea to invite some of the jazz greats to recreate Newport, Rhode Island, USA in the heart of Teesside’s industrial landscape. Hudson the entrepreneur met with the like-minded New York-based Wein and a deal was done. In summer 1978 Newport came to Middlesbrough!

Fast forward four decades to 2018. It was time to commemorate those never to be forgotten days. The Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender is almost upon us. The newly renovated Town Hall will host a long weekend of some of the best jazz musicians currently working on the regional scene alongside national and international stars. Friday (Oct 19) features Manchester’s dynamic Beats & Pieces Big Band. Formed ten years ago by Ben Cottrell the band has rarely been out of the headlines since. Forward-looking, yet of the tradition, Cottrell’s outfit could be seen as a twenty-first-century trailblazer similar to Chris Barber’s pioneering efforts of the last century.

And something of a masterstroke sees the very same Chris Barber make a return (Saturday 20) to Teesside four decades on from his participation in that ‘Newport comes to Middlesbrough’ dream world. Octogenarian Barber’s touring schedule - he’s booking into 2019! - would test the resilience of some whippersnappers with their three or four gigs a month itinerary. Barber’s top class band won’t be taking things easy as the bandleader will play until someone puts the lights out!

Earlier on Saturday, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra will perform a programme, much of it commissioned, in the Main Hall. NYJO is the other band, like Barber’s, returning to the scene of its 1978 ‘Newport’ engagement.  A then young trumpet player, Guy Barker (!), has done alright since and this is an opportunity to spot a future star from today’s line-up. Joining NYJO will be the recently reformed Tees Valley Youth Big Band. NYJO will celebrate the contribution of women in jazz; a world premiere performance of Nikki Iles’ new commission for the band, and the arrangement by Laura Jurd of Mary-Lou William’s Zodiac Suite. Trumpeter Jurd performs in a late night concert (10pm) with her band Dinosaur.

Sunday (Oct 11) dawns early (11am) with Zoë Gilby’s Family Jazz All-Stars. The concert is designed to captivate the youngest of listeners (ages 5+) although all (there isn’t an upper age limit!) are welcome to attend. From 2pm in the Crypt there are no fewer than four bands to listen to; American singer Hailey Tuck, the Teesside-based trumpeter Noel Dennis revisiting his Tom Harrell ‘Aurora’ show, pianist Paul Edis’ widely-praised Ushaw Ensemble and Printmakers, an amazing grouping of Nikki Iles, piano, Norma Winstone, voice, Mark Lockheart, saxophone, guitarist Mike Walker and the bass and drums pairing of Steve Watts and James Maddren. Throughout the weekend there will be other first-rate performances. At various times expect to hear, among others, Emma Fisk, James Birkett and Roly Veitch.

The first Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender closes (Sunday, Oct 11, 7:30pm) with an appearance by one of the world’s great big bands. All the way from New York via a week-long run at Ronnie Scott’s…it’s the Mingus Big Band! Talk about big hitters… this is the band to hear! Call the box office now on 01642 729729.   
Russell                           

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