Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 2026)

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

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Scotty Adair (drums).

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, January 07, 2019

A Gala Performance, a Darlington Opus

PHOTOS (courtesy of Malcolm Sinclair).

County Durham correspondent Tony Eales filed a report on recent events in Durham and Darlington. On Friday lunchtime TE attended Durham's Gala Theatre to hear trumpeter Noel Dennis reprise his Tom Harrell project. 'Aurora' played to yet another full houseas Teesside-based Dennis (trumpet/flugelhorn) performed music associated with the revered American in the A-list company of Mark Williams, guitar, Andy Champion, bass, and drummer Russ Morgan. Zoë Gilby's voice and lyrics formed an integral part of the one hour set.

Later in the day Mark Williams and Russ Morgan made the short trip down to the Traveller's Rest in the Cockerton suburb of Darlington to rendezvous with bassist Paul Susans to play a gig at the long-running Opus 4 Jazz Club. Williams' trio played to a somewhat smaller audience* in the upstairs function room on West Auckland Road. The trio's setlist was, perhaps, a little different to the usual straight ahead, swinging fayre to be heard at Opus 4.  
Russell 
Next month's lunchtime concert (Friday 1 Feb) is guaranteed to sell out. The Paul Edis Trio: A History of Jazz Piano features pianist Edis working with Andy Champion and Russ Morgan in an entertaining and informative potted history of, as it says on the tin, the history of jazz piano. S/he who hesitates will be locked out at one o'clock on February 1. Don't delay, this one will sell out. Call the Gala's box office now: 03000 266 600.

** The Traveller's Rest is sure to be busy next month. The now annual appearance by Alan Barnes - on Friday 8 February - at the Opus 4 Jazz Club has become an immensely popular affair. Admission is £12, pay on the door. Don't be caught out, from now on doors open half an hour earlier at 7:30 with the first set starting at eight o'clock. And if, inexplicably, Barnes alone doesn't light your fire, then factor in the trio he'll be working with...Messrs Edis, Champion and Morgan. Yes, world-class jazz in Darlington at a bargain twelve quid. Start queuing now!       
Russell.

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