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

18336 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 190 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 28), 90

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Bailey Rudd (drums).

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Trumpet quartet @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free. Quartet inc. Dick Stacey (SSBB). Programme inc. Basie’s Panassié Stomp + Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho.
Thu 05: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Celebrate - Commonwealth Day.
Thu 05: Flo/ra + Maya Kally @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £16.45., £13.28., £12.22., £9:04.
Thu 05: Salty Dog @ @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 06: EXHIBITION: Images of Jazz @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. Visual artist Dave Barden exhibiting works in Gallery Two (10:00am-4:00pm Mon to Sat, closing May 30).
Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Northern Monkey Brass Band @ Market Place, Blyth NE24 1BQ. 5:00pm, 6:00pm & 7:30pm. Free. A ‘Festival of Energy’ event.
Fri 06: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 06: Brass Funkeys + support @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Fri 06: Vintage Explosion @ Whitley Bay Playhouse. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 06: Flat Moon + Spilt Milk @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.
Fri 06: Giles Strong Quartet @ Old Cinema Launderette, Durham. 7:45pm (7:00pm doors). £16.50.
Fri 06: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. Musicians Unlimited (in concert). £10.00. (£20.00 weekend ticket). Day 1/3.

Sat 07: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 12 noon. Open Section (all day, closing concert performance at 7:00pm). £15.00. (£20.00 weekend ticket). Day 2/3.
Sat 07: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Antônio Carlos Jobim: Meditation & How Insensitive. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free. Sat 07: Hot Club du Nord @ St Mary’s Parish Hall, Barnard Castle. 7:00pm. £20.00., £8.00 under 16. Charity fundraiser.
Sat 07: Taupe + Marigolds + Mother Man @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 9:30am. School Section & Youth Section (all day). £10.00. (£20.00 weekend ticket). Day 3/3.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: TRIO-SKW @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Josh Savage (drums); Lucas Kelly (organ); Tim ‘Bim’ Williams (guitar).
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Trish Clowes’ My Iris @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 08: Durham University Big Band & Foot Notes @ Elvet Methodist Church, Durham. 7:30pm. £10.00., £8.00., £6.00. Big band & a cappella ensemble.

Mon 09: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. 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

Wednesday, December 04, 2019

O Come All Ye Jazz Fans: ‘A Jazzy Christmas’ Comes to Middlesbrough This December

(Press release)

Sunday Jazz at Middlesbrough Town Hall is back. This time for a special Christmas-themed concert which will launch the venue’s eclectic winter live music programme.

Following sold out shows at Sage Gateshead in 2017 and 2018, nationally renowned jazz composer and performer, Paul Edis will bring his celebrated arrangements of festive favourites to Teesside on Sunday 15th December.

Audiences can expect to hear imaginative renditions of traditional Christmas carols including O Come All Ye Faithful and Silent Night, as well as reinventions of classic festive pop and jazz tunes, such as Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree and Let it Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow.

Performed by some of the leading lights of the UK jazz scene, including Jo Harrop, Matt Anderson, Emma Fisk and some very special guests, this event is a must-see for fans of Jazz and live music in general.

Commenting on the forthcoming show, Paul Edis said: “A Jazzy Christmas is a brilliant alternative take on the usual Christmas repertoire and an excellent antidote to the piped music heard in so many shops since October.

“It’s a family friendly show featuring new arrangements of some of my favourite Christmas tunes, performed by an 11-piece band including the ‘velvet voiced’ jazz singer Jo Harrop.

“It’s the perfect show for anyone who loves live music, especially those who love Christmas Songs!”

Sage Gateshead’s youth jazz ensemble, Jambone, directed by Edis himself, will kick start the festive Jazz proceedings. Widely regarded as one of the country’s most accomplished youth bands, Jambone has helped launch the careers of many of the region’s top professional musicians.

Paul Edis adds“Jambone are an outstanding group of young musicians. The musical mission of the band is to provide a range of repertoire and performance challenges for its members.

“They’ll perform a set before ‘A Jazzy Christmas’ which will give the Middlesbrough audience a chance to hear the stars of tomorrow.”

Paul Edis’ Jazzy Christmas is part of an ambitious monthly series of Jazz concerts programmed by the founder of Gateshead International Jazz Festival at Sage Gateshead, Ros Rigby (OBE).

Speaking on the forthcoming show, Ros Rigby said: “A Jazzy Christmas will really get Teesside audiences in the Christmas spirit with Paul Edis’ arrangements of well-known Christmas songs. The fantastic singer, Jo Harrop comes from the North East but is now based in London so this is a rare chance to see her back on her home turf.”

The next Sunday Jazz offering will take place in January, celebrating Burns Night with a special afternoon of performances from some of Scotland’s leading jazz composers and performers, including 2018’s Young Jazz Musician of The Year, Joe Williamson; Tom Bancroft’s ‘In Common’; Fergus McCreadie and Georgia Cécile, the 2019 winner of ‘Best Vocalist’ at the Scottish Jazz Awards.

Ros Rigby Added: “There are three more gigs to come in the Sunday Jazz series. January 19th will get us all in the mood for Burns Night with four amazing bands drawing on some of Scotland's finest jazz musicians.”

A Jazzy Christmas (Ft. Paul Edis and Jambone) takes place at Middlesbrough Town Hall’s Crypt on Sunday 15th December from 2pm to 6pm.

Tickets are available via middlesbroughtownhall.co.uk priced at just £12 (plus booking fee) or by calling the Box Office on 01642 729 729.

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