Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

May

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Jazz Classics with Rivkala @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Rivkala (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Thu 21: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 22: Paul Skerritt @ Market Place, Durham. From 12 noon. Free. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Fri 22: Paul Edis Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00. Edis, Andy Champion, Steve Hanley.
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 22: Paul Edis Trio @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £TBC. Edis, Andy Champion, Steve Hanley.

Sat 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Bywell Hall. 2:00pm. Northumberland County Show.
Sat 23: Paul Edis @ Core Music, Gilesgate, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00. A Core Music fundraiser, Hexham Jazz Weekender Day/Weekend ticket not applicable. Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sat 23: Blyth Big Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 6:30pm. £9.00., £5.00.
Sat 23: Paul Edis & Friends @ Musicwonders, Church Chare, Chester-le-Street. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £15.00. www.musicwonders.org. BYOB. SOLD OUT!
Sat 23: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Queen’s Hall Hexham. 7:00pm. £13.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sat 23: TC & the Groove Family + Lagos to Longbenton @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sat 23: Davina & the Vagabonds @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £22.00. + £1.50 bf.
Sat 23: Celebrating Wes Montgomery @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 8:15pm. £14.00., £12.00. Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sat 23: Chris Coull’s Porgy & Bess @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 9:30pm. £16.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender.

Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 24: SwanNek @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £11.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sun 24: Salty Dog @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free. Donations.
Sun 24: Ben Crosland’s Threeway @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm. £13.50 (inc. bf). Line-up inc. Steve Waterman. Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sun 24: Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Street Brass Band Bonanza: The Fanfare + Storytellers + Tenth Avenue Band @ The Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £10.00., £8.00.
Sun 24: Charlie Parr @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50. Blues. Jumpin’ Hot Club.
Sun 24: Olly Styles Experience @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.
Sun 24: Finn-Keeble Group @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 8:15pm. £13.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender. Feat. Jamil Sheriff.
Sun 24: Modern Vikings @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 9:30pm. £16.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender.

Mon 25: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 26: Noel Dennis Sextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00. A Miles Davis centenary concert (Davis b. 26. 5. 1926). Noel Dennis (trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums). SOLD OUT!
Tue 26: Lagos to Longbenton @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.
. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

Sunday, August 11, 2019

SSBB News.

Watching the John Wilson Prom celebrating the film music that came out of the Warner Brothers studios from the 1930s onwards I couldn't fail to be impressed by the trumpet playing of Mike Lovatt and my first reaction was to think we need to hear more of this ace player.

Then, guess what? Alice Grace posts on Facebook announcing that this very same Mike Lovatt is appearing with the Strictly Smokin' Big Band at Sage Gateshead on February 29 next year. Put it in your diary now - last year's concert with Mark Nightingale was a sell-out and this one will be too - bank on it.

Incidentally, the John Wilson Prom was brilliant which will be of some comfort to those disappointed that he won't be making his annual visit to the Gateshead venue this year - listen here.
Lance

5 comments :

Liz said...

Yes I knew about Mike Lovett's gig in February from when I scanned the Sage upcoming events. He was superb, as were them all. It was 2 hours plus of sheer magic. Matt Ford, who can sing anything, sad, happy, romantic, he did it all. I especially liked his "Days of wine & roses". He has a sincerity about him. I must mention the Maida Vale singers, they just enjoy themselves so much. .The whole ensemble was a total credit to our man JW, a Gateshead lad, who takes his place beside the best in the world. He deserves his "year out" after a decade of Proms. We eagerly await his return at next year's Royal Albert Hall

NeilC said...

I concur , I missed the Prom live but I was so anxious to see it I watched it on catch up until 3 am on Saturday morning it was absolutely stunning and so enjoyable. I thought all of the singers were excellent but agree about Matt Ford. He was outstanding and his rendition of 76 Trombones from the Music Man was comedic and so well delivered, you could see he totally enjoyed delivering it .Mr Wilson is at the top of his game, his attention to detail is second to none . It is testimony to his skill and dedication that there is a queue of accomplished musicians who change their holiday plans to ensure they can play in his annual Prom .

NeilC said...

I was walking past Hoochie Coochie and spotted an advert for Claire Martin and the Strictly Smokin Big Band playing there in October. Are they the same or different version of the band, with Claire Martin as a guest or is this indeed Claire Martin's band , which just happens to have the same name . Apologies for my lack of knowledge in advance. Here is the link to the gig for anyone who is interested:-

https://www.hoochiecoochie.co.uk/event/claire-martin-the-strictly-smoking-big-band

Lance said...

Yes Neil it's the one and only SSBB with the one and only Claire Martin as guest vocalist. Over the years, SSBB and Hoochie have combined to book internationally acclaimed vocalists to appear with the band.
These have included Joe Stilgoe, Polly Gibbons, Hailey Tuck and now, perhaps the greatest coup of all, Claire Martin O.B.E.

NeilC said...

Thank you for clarifying Lance, I guess we will be hotfooting along there for tickets which I assume will sell like hot cakes . I imagine Mike Lovett won't be guesting but it will not detract in any shape or form from the quality of this gig

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