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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

18037 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 458 of them this year alone and, so far, 36 this month (June 11).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free. Concert performance (open to the public)..
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00. CANCELLED!

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: David Gray's Flextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’.
Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

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, November 06, 2018

Observations on the 2018 British Jazz Awards

Well done to the winners and nominees. I was proud to be part of the nominating panel and pleased that some of my nominees won and others were ‘in the frame’. Also pleased that many of those who ‘made the cut’ (how many more clichés am I going to come up with?!) are familiar figures in the northeast be it past, present or future.

Good to see Emma Fisk’s high placing although it also begs the question as to the validity of a ‘Miscellaneous Instrument’ section. These days there are sufficient violinists, organists, soprano saxists, flautists and vibes players to be deserving of their own category. Perhaps in future, it should be reserved for pipers, nose-fluters, Aeolian harpists and other exotic species. As a further comment on Emma – those who heard her playing at the past weekend’s Classic Jazz Party will appreciate her high standing.
The CJP also saw some outstanding playing from trumpet winner Enrico Tomasso and the Jeff Barnhart/Spats Langham album - Thanks For the Melody - placed in the Best New Album category. They too gave ace performances at CJP.

Trombone king Mark Nightingale is heading north for a gig at Sage Gateshead with SSBB in February (23rd); guitar nominee John Etheridge is at Sage Gateshead tonight (Nov.6) with Soft Machine and small group winners Kansas Smitty’s House Band are at the same venue on Friday (Nov. 9).
Double champion Alan Barnes has been a frequent visitor this, and every year, most recently at the Ushaw Jazz Festival in Durham.
The Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender featured nominee pianist Nikki Iles – the most charming lady on the planet – as well as big bands NYJO and Beats & Pieces. Alison Rayner featured in the double bass category and her band ARQ – winners at the recent APPJAG award ceremony are at The Globe for a Jazz Coop gig on Nov. 22. 
Lance.
PS: Back in the day, the trad fans used to argue over the merits of Humph's New Orleans based band and the driving Dixieland of Freddy Randall. I was in the latter camp. However, in the reissued albums poll Humph won whereas Randall was a mere fourth although both were ahead of a Monk album the only category, presumably, where non-British nominees were eligible.
PPS: Also interesting that all the nominated vocalists were women. 

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