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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 2025).

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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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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