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

Friday, May 31, 2019

Preview: Jo Harrop, Vasilis Xenopoulos, Paul Edis Trio, Ed Cross String Quartet @ Sage Gateshead

Forget about the Spice Girls at the Stadium of Light on Thursday (June 6) There's a much bigger deal at Sage Gateshead that very same night.

The Paul Edis* Trio with super songstress Jo Harrop and the ever popular saxist Vasilis Xenopoulos are in concert having just played a reportedly tremendous gig down at London's 606 Club.
Let Paul tell us more about the upcoming Sage gig.

"About 10 years ago I got a call from my good friend, saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos. I’d met Vasilis when I was studying at music college in London. We’d played together loads as a duo then, and since I returned to the North East he’d started making what have now become almost annual trips to perform (he now considers himself an honorary Geordie!). 

Vas was on a gig that day with a London based singer, originally from 'up north' who was looking for a pianist for a gig later in the year. The singer was Jo Harrop, who it turns out had grown up in Chester-le-Street, just a few streets away from my family home! It took a Greek - based in London - to introduce us..! Since then, Jo too has made regular appearances in the region performing at Sage Gateshead, Ushaw College, Gala, Jazz Cafe and elsewhere. 

On Thursday next week (June 6) I'm really excited to be joined by Jo and Vasilis, alongside Russ Morgan (drums) Andy Champion (bass) and the Ed Cross string quartet to perform original songs and new arrangements from the Great American Songbook inspired by the themes of ‘Time and Place’. 

Tickets are still available via this link: https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/paul-edis/
YouTube clip from '606' Club."

However, there is more! On Friday lunchtime (June 7) Paul and Vasilis perform a duo set at the Gala Theatre, Durham. Early booking is essential for this popular venue.

And still more! On Friday evening at Ushaw College Paul, Vasilis, Andy Champion and Russ Morgan play a quartet gig in a truly majestic setting.

Three unmissable gigs!
Lance.

* Paul Edis is currently Sage Gateshead’s Associate Artist which is funded with support from PRS for Music Foundation. Sage Gateshead support artists by creating opportunities for performance, commissions and touring as well as the chance to work closely with Royal Northern Sinfonia and their classical, jazz, folk and choral youth ensembles.

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