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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

17,533 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 497 of them this year alone and, so far, 75 this month (June 23).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

Thu 26: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Brass Instruments & the use of mutes.

Fri 27: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Time After Time’.

Sat 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Linskill Centre, North Shields. 4:00-10:30pm. Free, but ticketed (over 18s only). A multi-bill, multi-genre ‘Canny Shiels - North Shields 800’ event. Three Kings Brewery on site.
Sat 28: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 29: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 29: Bal Bruch Social Dance @ As You Like It, Sandyford, Newcastle. 12:30pm. Free. Dance event with Hot Club de Heaton performing live (2:00-3:00pm). A ‘Jar on the Bar’ event.
Sun 29: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 3:00pm. Ray McVay & co.
Sun 29: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: Zoë Gilby w. Ryton Choral Society @ Corbridge Middle School NE45 5HX. 5:30pm. £15.00. Gilby w jazz trio & choir. ‘An evening of jazz song for choir’.
Sun 29: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 29: John Wilson & the Sinfonia of London @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Greatest Hits’.
Sun 29: Out Front @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

JULY 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. 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

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Preview: The Great North Big Band Jazz Festival (Feb 28-Mar 1)

(Preview by Russell)

This weekend the GNBBJF returns to Park View Community Centre. GNBBJF? That's the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival being staged once again in Chester le Street from Friday 28 February to Sunday 1 March. A huge event, a mammoth undertaking, the GNBBJF is one of the most important weekends in the big band jazz calendar. Orchestras from across the country will be converging on Church Chare just off Front Street in Chester-le-Street to battle it out hoping to take home some silverware.

The action begins on Friday evening (7:30pm) with a double bill concert performance. Hartlepool based Musicians Unlimited will once again have the honour of opening a nonstop feast of big band jazz. Mick Donnelly's outfit has been on the scene for three decades and more and the current line-up boasts several big hitters within the sections and two accomplished vocalists - Jan Spencelayh and Paul Skerritt. A hand picked Festival Band will show the breadth and depth of talent in the region focussing on the many emerging musicians soon to become household names.

Saturday is the first day of two competition days with senior bands (college, university, semi-pro) up for examination. Adjudicators listen intently, scribble notes and make their final deliberations. At the end of a full day of big band jazz Park View Community Centre will be packed to the rafters with literally hundreds of musicians (and supporters) awaiting the results. The tension will be unbearable! Big bands from Bolton, Durham, Hexham, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and further afield (this year including a band from Edinburgh) will raise a cheer for each and every band but, make no mistake, the winning band will be met with the loudest applause amidst wild scenes of celebration. The reigning champions, Bolton's Managers Big Band, will take some beating. Be there to experience the occasion for yourself.

Sunday (March 1) is the day guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye. Some of the participants will stand little more than 1.372 metres high (that's 4' 6'' in old money) not because of stunted growth, no, these are young, growing (literally growing) musicians, school kids playing in school and youth big bands. The standard is amazingly high. Some will go on to make a living in the music world, some will play simply for their own enjoyment. This year St Aidan's School from Harrogate wil make a welcome return after an absence of a few years. Does this suggest the lads and lasses from Yorkshire fancy their chances? Get along to find out. 

A weekend ticket (£15) permits access to all three days, day tickets (£12) will be available on the door and under 16s gain entry for a fiver. Food and a licensed bar will be available all weekend. Please note the Great North Big Band Festival 2020 is a cash only event.   
Russell          

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