Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

19,012 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 876 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 16) 55.

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

From This Moment On

October.

Sat 17: SunOrbitUs @ Culture House, Sunderland. 11:00am - 5:00pm. Closing event in a year-long piece of music. 11:00am-1:00pm Improvisation workshop w. Faye MacCalman; 2:00-5:00pm Collective Improvised Performance by Sunderland residents. SOLD OUT!
Sat 17: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 17: Martin Taylor @ Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £48.72; £43.37. Solo guitar. SOLD OUT!

Sun 18: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 18: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Jump jive.
Sun 18: Guisborough Big Band @ Redcar Rugby Club. 5:00-8:00pm. ‘Charity Big Band Birthday Bash’ in aid of Parkinson’s UK & Young Sounds UK. Free (donations on the door).
Sun 18: Martin Taylor @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £23.30. Solo guitar.
Sun 18: Ben Crosland Quartet with Steve Waterman @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 19: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 19: Sue Ferris Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 20: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn).
Tue 20: Graham Hardy’s Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Head, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Tickets from Tully’s, Rothbury. Coquetdale Jazz. Note change of venue.
Tue 20: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Scotty Adair.

Wed 21: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 21: FILM: Blue Moon @ Washington Arts Centre. 1:00pm. £4.50 (inc. bf). Biopic of lyricist Lorenz Hart.
Wed 21: De'Sean Jones’ Urban Art Orchestra @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.; £5.00. student, unwaged; free to Mercury Awards ticket holders. De'Sean Jones (tenor sax, EWI); Tjoe Man Cheung (guitar); Mikele Montolli (double bass) + others TBA.
Wed 21: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 21: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 21: Roby Glod-Steve Sewell Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Thu 22: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 22: Mercury Prize @ Utility Arena Newcastle. 8:00pm. £60.25.; £48.75. Line-up inc. Knats.
Thu 22: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bandstand!, Exhibition Park, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.20 (inc. bf) via Instagram. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Thu 22: Olly Styles Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.75.

Fri 23: Sara Oschlag w. Arnie Somogyi Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. Sara Oschlag (vocals); Ben Lawrence (piano); Arnie Somogyi (double bass); John Hirst (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 23: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ Gala Theatre, Durham. 1:00pm. Durham Jazz Festival. SOLD OUT!
Fri 23: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 23: Maja Bugge & Dave Evans @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Durham Jazz Festival.
Fri 23: Knats @ King Street Social Club, North Shields. 7:00pm. £17.00., £14.70., £11.30., £5.50. SOLD OUT!
Fri 23: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.
Fri 23: Sara Oschlag & Arnie Somogyi w. Ben Lawrence @ Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:30pm. Sara Oschlag (vocals); Ben Lawrence (keyboards); Arnie Somogyi (double bass).
Fri 23: Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook @ Redhills, Durham. 8:00pm. James Pearson (piano); Sam Burgess (double bass); Chris Higginbottom (drums); Alex Garnett (sax); Polly Gibbons (vocals). Durham Jazz Festival. SOLD OUT!
Fri 23: SwanNek + Jacob Egglestone @ Fabio’s Bar, Durham. 9:00pm. Durham Jazz Festival.

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

(Preview): Marie Curie Fundraiser - A Concert For Margaret Barnes


(Info supplied by JNE)

Saturday 20th July @ The Literary and Philosophical Society, 23 Westgate Road,
Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 1SE
£10 Afternoon or Evening Session Ticket / £12 Full Day Ticket

Afternoon Session (Doors: 1.00pm
)

1.30pm: Debra Milne and Steve Glendinning
2.20pm: Paul Edis with Graham Hardy
3.25pm: Hand To Mouth
4.15pm: Thomas Dixon Band


Evening Session (Doors: 5.45pm)

6.00pm: Paul Taylor + The Long Lonesome Go
7.05pm: Bradley Johnston Trio trio with Roly Veitch
8.10pm: Duo FCT
9.00pm: Zoe Gilby Quartet


The jazz scene on Tyneside can surely have had no more committed a supporter than Margaret Barnes.

It’s usually the case with jazz promoters that one individual appears as the public face, but in reality it’s the work of a team that keeps the show on the road - and there can hardly have been a greater team player than Margaret. The jazz community - musicians, fans and organisers alike - owe her a massive debt of gratitude, and this concert, raising funds for her chosen charity, is our way of saying “Thank You Margaret”.

For well over 40 years she served on the Board of Jazz North East, providing continuity through countless changes in membership, and ever ready with her measured thoughts on the organisation’s concert programme. Like any enthusiast Margaret had her own favourite musicians and styles - big bands were perhaps her first love - but she always recognised that jazz has a glorious diversity, and gave unstinting support to gigs right across the spectrum from Hot Club swing to uncompromising free jazz. Generally sat at the ticket desk, hers was the welcoming smile that immediately assured musicians and audiences they were in for a good night.

But it wasn’t just with Jazz North East that Margaret’s love of jazz expressed itself. She was a great supporter of local players, always ready with words of encouragement, and a frequent audience member at gigs ranging from low key trad residencies through to high profile festival sessions. The eagerness with which musicians have signed up to take part in today’s tribute is a mark of the high esteem in which Margaret was held by everybody who met her and warmed to her boundless enthusiasm.

Contact: 0191 232 0192 / library@litandphil.org.uk
Accessibility: Partly accessible for wheelchair users, contact venue for details Travel: Any Bus and Metro to Central Station

14+ with under 18's accompanied by an adult but please do contact the venue for full details regarding younger ages and for any further queries regarding accessibility.

TICKETS

Reflex CD (Nun Street - Newcastle) 0191 260 3246
www.seetickets.com / info@jazznortheast.com
Admission is generally possible through payment on the door subject to venue capacity

*Stated times may be subject to change.

3 comments :

Lance said...

Looks to be a fabulous day of music and memories and one that I hope all those who knew Margaret will turn out for in force. A surprising omission from the line up of bands/musicians is the lack of representation by musicians from the 'low profile lunchtime trad sessions' (sic) that Margaret loved so much. The Vieux Carré Jazzmen even performed at her bedside during her last hours.
Perhaps they may be planning a separate tribute - solidarity has never been one of the jazz community's strong points.

Nevertheless, let's make this a day of remembrance for a woman who gave so much to the northeast jazz scene.

Patti said...

It will indeed be a wonderful tribute to dear Margaret - and with all the funds raised going to the Marie Curie Hospice, who looked after her so well at the end. I also assumed that the Vieux Carre Jazzmen would be invited to play - Margaret was a big fan of the band, and jazz from the 1920's and 1930's classic period. The fact that this music was with Margaret in her final hours would have meant everything to her.

Steve Andrews said...

Re: your comment about solidarity across the jazz community, I tend to agree, but sadly for this elderly ex-pat, tonight is the first I've heard about this tribute concert. I know, I should read your Blog more often! If I had known in advance I would have happily trotted over to the NE to represent the Vieux Carre (being one of the few regular members from the '70's still alive) and the older styles of jazz. I remember Margaret with great fondness and respect for her genuine love of jazz and her unflinching support of local players (of all styles) as you said. Sadly, my bulging gig-book renders me unable to attend on Saturday, as I'm contracted to play three sets while wearing a funny hat at the Penrith Pot-Fest (ceramics!!!) with the Ragtime Rascals. I hope the Lit & Phil concert is well attended - the music will be great in any case with that line-up.

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