Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

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, August 26, 2019

Ushaw Jazz Festival (Day 3 Afternoon Part One) VHB - August 25

Faye Thompson (alto sax); Marko Marsenic (tenor sax); Cameron McArthur (piano/keys); Rebecca Hall (synth bass); Susan Rutter (drums).
(Review by Lance)

After the previous day's invasion by the Birmingham gang, today it was the turn of a contingent from York University to take root in the Francis Thompson Room.

Led from piano/keys by McArthur, the music was very Robert Glasper inspired which is the Holy Grail to some and the devil incarnate to others (note how I pick my metaphors to suit the surrounds). Personally, my feelings lie somewhere in the middle and, all in all, it was an enjoyable set.


Faye Thompson, I presume, isn't  related to the aforementioned Francis who gazed down upon them, if he is, I'm sure he'd have been proud of her. We've been impressed with Faye's playing ever since an initial sit in at the old Jazz Café jam session. On tenor, Mark Marsenic blew some gutsy tenor that also drew the plaudits and I'm not just praising the two saxes because they were wearing Doc Martins...

McArthur appeared to be the leader and wrote most of the music. One piece that was, as yet, untitled had a particularly frenetic ending and when asked for suggestions for a title I almost called out The Fall of the House of Ushaw but seeing the Doc Martins only four feet away I kept schtumm! 

With Rebecca Hall on synth bass and Susan Rutter on drums, girl-power was to the fore and both slotted in admirably, albeit, unobtrusively.

A good start to the final day (I missed out on the family fun earlier - see previous review from Russell).
Lance.

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