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

18104 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1068 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 25), 82.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

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).

JANUARY 2026

Thu 01: ???

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

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

Saturday, April 04, 2020

Paul Skerritt - Live Jam @ Lockdown - April 4


(Review by Lance)

8:00pm it said and I logged in dead on time - zilch. Much clicking on links - still nothing and I began to think our boy had done something rash. Then the penny dropped. Years of visiting Hoochie Coochie, The Globe and other venues should have hipped me to the fact that when they give a starting time it usually means doors!

So, I put my on my mask and gloves, stuck up the local liquor store, came back and popped a can of Old Speckled Hen by which time we were up and running.

Paul invited us to Come Fly With Me and we did. The effervescent James Harrison and co weren't around but he did have some tip-top big band backing tracks to make up for it and I knew this was going to be a half hour that would be a very enjoyable 30 minutes.

Gregory Porter's Hey Laura was as smooth as silk and he did it without wearing a silly hat.

L.O.V.E he sang in English and Italian. Ain't That a Kick in the Head he sang in American English and Wonderwall he sang in whatever secondary language Oasis use.

This was great and the viewer numbers were rising fast. On the Street Where You Live was a first timer for him - look out for it next time round!

Such a Night was introduced as an Elvis number although us more mature guys know that it was Johnnie Ray who made the original recording. Maybe Paul knew that too but didn't think his audience would want to see a grown man cry!

Sinatra returned, just in time, for New York, New York.

What a swell party this was although, and this applies to all the Facebook gigs I've watched, every so often the picture freezes and I have do a lot of clicking and taking of the Lord's name in vain to get back on track.

Nice one Paul - catch you soon.
Lance

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