Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ 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. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 bf.

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

Thursday, February 06, 2020

Award Winning Jazz Composer and Clarinettist Arun Ghosh to Perform in Middlesbrough This February

(Press release)

Twice winner of ‘Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year’, Arun Ghosh is set to return to the North East for a one-off show on Teesside this month.

The British-Asian clarinettist will bring his signature fusion of jazz, rock, folk and South Asian music to Middlesbrough Town Hall on Sunday the 16th February as part of the venue’s ambitious jazz programme, Sunday Jazz in the Crypt.

The fifth instalment of the monthly afternoon event brings together some of the leading lights of the Northern jazz scene. Arun Ghosh hails from Bolton and rose to prominence in the jazz venues of Manchester. Supporting Ghosh are two North East based ensembles; the award-winning Tyneside band, Archipelago and the celebrated trio fronted by Newcastle guitarist Mark Williams.
Ghosh is widely regarded as a leading innovator of the modern Indo-Jazz genre, captivating audiences with his passionate style, melodic outpourings and freewheeling improvisations.

Described by the iconic Sitar-player Ravi Shankar as “a natural born improviser”, Ghosh’s intensely charged clarinet-playing is propelled by driving drums, hypnotic basslines and psychedelic keyboard textures.

Joining Arun Ghosh is the genre-blending trio, Archipelago. Having toured extensively across the UK, including a slot at Latitude Festival on the BBC Introducing stage, the trio have made a name for themselves for their live performances, taking their audiences on a journey through chaos, freedom, darkness and joy.

The Mark Williams Trio utilise loops and effects to create a unique sound drawing influences from such genres as jazz, rock, blue and metal.

Lead Programmer and Founder of Gateshead International Jazz Festival Ros Rigby commented:

“February 16th’s Sunday Jazz is a real celebration of musical talent from the North of England.  Conceived in Calcutta, but having grown up in Bolton and Manchester, Arun Ghosh draws on his musical heritage to create accessible and emotional music with a mesmerising performance style. 

“His group is joined by two bands from the vibrant Newcastle jazz scene; guitarist Mark Williams and his trio and Archipelago, led by saxophonist Faye McCalman with John Pope on bass and Christian Anderson on drums.”

Sunday Jazz in The Crypt Featuring Arun Ghosh, Archipelago and Mark Williams Trio will take place at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Sunday 16th February 2020. All under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets can be purchased for £12 (plus booking fee) and are available to purchase online via the following link: 

For more information about Middlesbrough Town Hall and their other events visit: 

Follow Middlesbrough Council on Twitter: @MbroCouncil

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