Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ 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: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 bf.

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

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

River City Ride Again - as a quartet!

The word on the jazz grapevine is of a new monthly, Monday evening, jazz session starting on Monday, February 4, at the newly refurbished Beresford Arms in the picturesque village of Whalton, near Morpeth, in Northumberland.

The band will initially be a four-piece comprising Phil Rutherford on sousaphone, Keith Stephen on guitar/banjo, Bob Wade on trumpet and Gordon Solomon on trombone.
Initially. The repertoire will concentrate on pieces from the 1920s and 1930s, but the aim is to build up a program featuring Jelly Roll Morton compositions, as well as numbers from the recordings of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.
The big advantage for the band is that they all live about 20 minutes from Whalton! And, since Gordon Solomon, Keith Stephen and occasionally Phil Rutherford have all been past members of the now (sadly) defunct River City Jazzmen, they have decided to name the band the River City Hot Four. Sessions will be on the first Monday of the month, starting at 8.30pm, and admission is free. The Beresford Arms has an excellent menu, real ales and a large car park. 
Lance.

PS: Not sure about public transport for those who don't live about 20 minutes from Whalton… but by car, 26 mins from Newcastle on the A696.

3 comments :

Anonymous said...

Very nice to have a New band on the scene. An expansion of live music
Good luck to all. Kindest regards Raymond Newton Double Bass player.

Ashington Jazz Club said...

The Beresford Arms is only 5 miles from Morpeth town centre and the B6524 is always well gritted in the winter time. The Beresford has always had a good reputation for food. Its similar to The Elephant in that the car park can be a problem in the winter - something to be aware of. Unfortunately its not on a bus route. For those travelling by car the post code for the sat nav is NE61 3UZ. Anyone want a lift from Ashington/Morpeth? Get in touch on 01670 813983

Friends in jazz John Taylor (Ashington Jazz Club)

Don't forget its the same day as Ashington Jazz Club so why not take in both gigs and enjoy a day out in mid Northumberland. 2 of the most northerly jazz venues in the UK. I see the monthly gig in Berwick is still going.

Lance - How do I get 300 characters as requested outside the box on here on the comments page ?

Lance said...

300 characters? Don't understand the question. Not confusing Blogger with Twitter which we're networked with (I think)?

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