Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Fri 19: Fraser Urquhart @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT! .
Fri 19: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 19: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 19: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00..
Fri 19: Castillo Nuevo @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:00pm. Free. .
Fri 19: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy..
Fri 19: Paul Skerritt @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes. .
Fri 19: Giles Strong Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club..
Fri 19: Creakin’ Bones & the Xmas Dinners @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £13.01 (inc. bf)..
Fri 19: Mark Toomey Quintet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

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, January 13, 2020

Renowned Scottish Jazz Artists to Celebrate Burns Night with Special Concert at Middlesbrough Town Hall

(Press release)

Ahead of Burns Night, Middlesbrough Town Hall is kicking off 2020 with an afternoon of live music, celebrating the unique energy of Scotland’s vibrant jazz scene.

Taking place on Sunday 19th January, some of Glasgow’s finest jazz musicians are set to perform in The Crypt within the historical Middlesbrough Town Hall. 

As part of a successful series of monthly Sunday afternoon Jazz concerts, this Burns Night celebration will be headlined by Tom Bancroft’s ‘In Common’, a musical project fusing the common elements of jazz, electronica, Scottish folk and Indian classical music to create a unique sound centred around drones, grooves and improvisation.
Support comes from BBC Introducing’s ‘One to Watch’, Georgia Cecile; winner of The Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year, Joe Williamson, and Scottish Jazz Award winners, the Fergus McCreadie Trio. 

Leading a new wave of Scottish Jazz, Glaswegian up-and-comer Georgia Cecile is receiving acclaim from critics and audiences alike with her unique blend of jazz, pop, R&B and soul. With the release of her debut album just around the corner, Cecile will be bringing some exciting new music to her set.

Joining Cecile is Joe Williamson’s latest project, Animal Society; a heady mix of electronic jazz and stadium rock, with influences as far reaching as Rage Against The Machine, Pat Metheny and EST. Their acclaimed live shows balance fiery grooves and heavy riffs with ethereal cinematic soundscapes. 

Finally, winners of the best album at the 2019 Scottish Jazz Awards, the Fergus McCreadie Trio will bring their innovative blend of Jazz and Scottish Traditional Music, described by Jazzwise Magazine as “Simply outstanding”. 

Commenting on the forthcoming show, lead programmer, Ros Rigby said: “The gig on January 19th will get us all in the mood for Burns Night the following weekend, with four amazing bands drawing on some of Scotland's finest jazz musicians. Get there early as to fit them all in we’ll be starting at 1pm”.

Sunday Jazz Burns Night Special (ft. Georgia Cecile, Tom Bancroft’s In Common, Joe Williamson’s Animal Society & the Fergus McCreadie Trio) will take place at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Sunday 19th January from 1pm. All under 14's must be accompanied by an adult. 

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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