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

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.

Sat 14: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 14: Big Joe Louis + Michael Littlefield @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00. Jumpin’ Hot Club.
Sat 14: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. 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

Wednesday, April 08, 2020

Bringin' the bins in

(By Russell)

The morning after the night before. It's 9:00am, a slice of toast with a hangover black coffee at hand. More CDs to listen to, reviews to write. it's a beautiful, peaceful, sunny lockdown day, birds twittering in the trees. And then...

The 'essential services' crew braved the hazards of back lane suburbia...they're dedicated public servants these guys, as their familiar bin lorry pulled up outside. It was a reassuring sight. Our heroes heaved heavy-laden blue ('doing our bit') recycling bins from kerbside to lorry, chatting casually, as is their wont. An imagined conversation...


Ron: Hey, Brian, these bins are bloody heavy this week! 
Brian: Aye, yer tellin' me! (CRASH! CLINK! CRAAASH!)
Ron: Hear that? You know...(CRASH! CLINK!...what these lot have been doin', don't ya?
Brian: Aye, ****ing plonkies. The sooner this lockdown's over the better!

And on their way our heroes went, the early morning quiet restored. Time to sneak out to bring the bins in, anticipating an imagined conversation...

The neighbourMornin'! (Damn, let's hope he doesn't mention last night's empties).
Your correspondent: Oh, mornin' (business like, trying not to engage).
The neighbour: Good time last night? (was that a pleasantry or something more searching?).
Your correspondent: Quiet (trying to sound convincing).
The neighbour: Well, I hope we didn't disturb you last last night...had a few too many lagers, you know, listening to my old country music albums. Hadn't heard them in years. They were in the loft and what with this lockdown thing I've been doing a bit of spring cleaning. 
Your correspondent: Oh, don't worry, didn't hear a thing.
The neighbour: You've got a record player thingy, haven't you?
Your correspondent: A turntable, aye.
The neighbour: Well, if you like, you can loan my LPs, they're really...
Your correspondent: Thanks for the offer but I've got lots of jazz CDs to listen to.
The neighbour: Ah, yes, you like that twiddly-diddly stuff, don't you?  
Your correspondent: Aye, sort of (closing the door, back in the real world, the world of twiddly-diddly jazz).

Now, where was I. Ah, yes, there's the latest ECM album to listen to before a quick trip to the shops for some, ahem, 'essential shopping'.          
Russell

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