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

Monday, May 06, 2019

Jazz Coop 5th Anniversary Party @ The Globe - April 30

(Report by Ann Alex)

A great time was had by all, no doubt about it. Five bands and a quiz devised by Lance, food and good company. We were celebrating International Jazz day and also the 5th birthday of the Jazz Co-op. I reckon there must have been 80 people, though not everyone stayed for the whole evening as this is jazz so people improvise even on their comings and goings.

The evening began with a set from the Swing Bridge Trio, new to me (Dan Martin. piano, Dave Parker bass, Peter Ninnim drums) and I began to furiously give out the quiz sheets, (available for £1 donation). After one glance most people declared that it was too hard but they had a try anyway. Thank you, everyone!
SAMPLE QUESTION: American trumpet player who married film star Betty Grable?
The answer was HARRY JAMES   (before my time).

SAMPLE EASY QUESTION: Name the guitarist who is one half of Hand To Mouth?
People couldn't fail with this one as the very man was standing on the stage as I read out the question. BRADLEY JOHNSTON had just concluded an excellent set of tunes wearing his other hat, along with James Birkett, very exciting music which held everyone's attention.

The quiz was won by Kevin Greene who was rewarded with a CD. Easier quiz please next time Lance! Or are we all jazz wimps?

The bands included Am Jam; Take It To The Bridge; and More Jam, besides the other two mentioned. They all acquitted themselves well. Don't ask me what they played as I was too busy thinking about the quiz, but I remember that the Swing Bridgers began with Yardbird Suite. I must mention Bernie Ranson who worked his socks off as he was up playing saxophone with Am Jam, More Jam and Take It To The Bridge, all three. More Jam were last up, with the addition of women singers, myself (All Of Me; I Only Have Eyes For You); Sheila Herrick with a fine version of Fine And Mellow; and Debra Milne with a perky version of Four.

Yes, it was a good do, so let's make it even better next year. And not forgetting thanks to the bar volunteers, Debra, Minnie, Jenny, Dave and Kevin.
Ann Alex  
PS: Apologies for the delay but I'm still having problems getting to grips with my new PC (computer).

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