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

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Sunday Jazz @ Middlesbrough Town Hall w. Binker Golding Band, Noya Rao, & Francis Tulip Quartet.

Binker Golding Band: Golding (tenor sax); Sarah Tandy (piano); Conor Chaplin (bass); Jamie Murray (drums).
(Review by Lance)

This was a cracker! From the opening number everyone went for it. Train-lagged they may have been but it didn’t show. Sarah Tandy set the bench mark at what seemed an impossible high but nothing is impossible and it was passed several times, not least by herself. Tenor and drums also posted the unreachable (bassist Chaplin set down his mark later). This was just the first tune and already I was on the edge of my seat eagerly anticipating the next one.

Think Blue Note, Dexter, Johnny Griffin blowing in today’s world and you’re getting close. Think of your favourite pianists then reshuffle the list making sure the name Tandy is amongst them.

Down in The Crypt – aptly named – I was glad of the foresight to don an extra layer but, such was the heat being generated by the players, Binker removed a layer and Chaplin rolled up his sleeves. The warmth reached out to me and I no longer felt cold.

No announcements were made until the end when Binker Trane – sorry, Golding - announced that all the numbers were from his latest album which has the unlikely title of Abstractions of Reality Past and Incredible Feathers
11 out of 10!
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Francis Tulip Quartet: Tulip (guitar); Ben Lawrence (piano); Michael Dunlop (bass guitar); Kai Chareunsy (drums)The afternoon opened up with a set by guitarist Tulip’s quartet who treated the not inconsiderable audience to pieces by Wayne Shorter (The Big Push & Infant Eyes); Herbie Hancock (I Have a Dream); Elvin Jones (Giraffe) and his own Matters of Fact. It is to his credit that, despite the illustrious names who had composed the preceding numbers, it was Tulip’s own piece that showed off the band to greatest effect. That’s true – it’s a matter of fact.
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Noya Rao: Olivia Bhattacharjee (voice/electronics); Tom Henry (keys/producer); Jim Wiltshire (bass guitar); Matt Davies (drums).

Slotted between the other two bands on the bill I have to hold up my hand and say this wasn’t really my scene and it would be unfair of me to pass judgement. Having said that, Olivia Bhattacharjee has a beautifully textured voice and a range that hinted at having operatic dimensions. All four are fine musicians and Russell was certainly impressed so perhaps he should be writing about this section of the afternoon. Electronic-soul is how the programme notes defined it so maybe Steve T should be doing the honours.

However, they sold CDs and the applause resounded so maybe I was the only one marching in step!

One thing is sure, the afternoon/early evening format of providing a platform for young bands from near and far is a good one and deserving of support (as of course are all gigs featuring live music). Next month’s offering is Paul Edis’ Jazzy Christmas with vocals by Jo Harrop and support from  the stars of the future – Jambone. This is on Sunday December 15 from 2:00pm - 6:00pm.
Lance.

2 comments :

Ros Rigby said...

Glad you enjoyed it Lance!

Lance said...

And well done you (Ros) for putting this all together!

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