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

18083 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1047 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 14), 61.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

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.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. 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

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Jazz North’s Northern Online Broadcasts for The Body and Soul

(Press release)
Jazz North’s Northern Online Broadcasts festival is back for its 4th year, and this time there will be a more holistic approach to help those in lockdown as it follows the theme ‘Body and Soul’. From Wednesday 6th to Saturday 9th May Jazz North will re-stream performances from its northern line showcase from Lancaster Jazz Festival in September 2019 and, in between performances, viewers can also do some yoga, cook a meal and drop-in to a social gathering, all online.

Broadcast from Jazz North’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, there will be performances from Jazz North northern line artists Beyond Albedofreese trioJohn Pope QuintetNishla Smith QuinetNot Now CharlieRafe's Dilemma and SogoRock. Before each midday performance will be yoga with Jason Scott and before each 8pm performance will be a practical cooking demonstration by four experienced northern jazz chefs.


Jazz North’s Digital Director and organiser of Northern Online Broadcasts, Nigel Slee, says it’s important to add a holistic element to this year’s festival. “The online world is very different to when the festival first started four years ago,” he says. “This year it’s not just the music, but the whole experience of a festival that can help people in this lockdown. It’s important to remember the whole body – we need to think about exercise and eating properly in order to live a balanced life. So, we’ve packed it all in to make an exciting programme of music, exercise, food, get togethers, interviews and discussions - what better way to incorporate that festival vibe, where you can experience food from around the world and do a yoga morning session, than to include it in our online festival? It’s a great way to try something new, feel good and enjoy the best jazz the north has to offer.”

Presenters Megan Roe (J Frisco) and John Pope (Archipelago, Ponyland and his own Quintet) will pull this full schedule together, which also includes panel discussions with European jazz festival directors and national jazz organisations, as well as an opportunity for artists to socialise at afternoon Zoom drop ins. Megan and John will be interviewing artists and promoters from different areas in the north for ‘Northern Scenes’ – a chance to find out anything from how they are reacting to the current situation to what it’s like being involved with Jazz North’s northern line.
  • Tue 5 May 2pm - Pre-festival Zoom Drop In for promoters (contact Lucy@jazznorth.org to join)
  • Jazz North’s Northern Online Broadcasts
    Wednesday 6th - Saturday 9th May 11am – 9pm:
  • Salvo’s – a family run Leeds Italian restaurant and salumeria. Owner Gip Dammone is an avid jazz enthusiast and founder member of Leeds's legendary DIG! Family, chroniclers of the jazz and groove underground in the north of England from the mid 1980's through to today. Gip has cooked for countless artists including James Brown and Jimmy Smith.

  • The Corner Café – a family run Leeds Indian restaurant run by Karin and Kate that welcomes regulars UK jazz artists Ed Jones, Matt Roberts and Matt Anderson.

  • Geoff Amos – a seasoned 50-year veteran of the UK jazz scene, artist tour manager and festival manager of the Brecon Jazz Festival. As a tour manager Geoff has come to the rescue on numerous occasions when faced with closed restaurants and unsuitable menu options. Geoff has cooked for US jazz legends Bobby Hutcherson and McCoy Tyner plus Van Morrison, John Etheridge, Mats Gustafsson and northern favourites Nikki Iles and Mike Walker.

  • Jazz North is the jazz development agency in the north funded by Arts Council England as a sector support organisation. Established in 2012 with a ground-breaking approach to supporting and nurturing jazz across the north, it uses the power of collective partnership working to build networks between musicians, educators, promoters and venues, to grow audiences for jazz and to inspire children and young people to make music.


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