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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.
Tue 18: Phil Bancroft’s Beautiful Storm @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20 & £11.00.. A JNE-Gem Arts co-promotion.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. 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, April 23, 2020

Preview: Newcastle Jazz Festival 2020 (Aug 13-16)

This year's Newcastle Jazz Festival is scheduled to take place over four days in August (13-16). It could be Britain will still be in lockdown but positive thinking never did anyone any harm so here's hoping the second annual event goes ahead! Festival organisers have released details of musicians and venues and it has all the makings of a memorable few days. 


The Strictly Smokin' Big Band's regular rehearsal night at the Bridge Hotel acts as the festival curtainraiser. As usual the night (Thursday 13, 7:00pm) will be free admission although for this one a ticket is required. As a stand alone gig this promises to be an unmissable occasion. On the Friday night (August 14) head to Newcastle Civic Centre for a rare Tyneside appearance by Jay Phelps. The British resident Canadian trumpeter first hit the headlines as a member of Empirical. The first floor Pandon Room just off Ceremonial Way plays host to Phelps' quartet. Tickets £10 & £8. 

Saturday (August 15) sees the return of the all day event at the Tyne Bank Brewery. Last year proved to be an unqualified success as a full house (see photo) enjoyed a day of top class jazz with Tyne Bank beers flowing and street food vendors doing a roaring trade in burgers, pizzas, wraps and more. This year the line-up (with one band still to be confirmed) looks like this: Dennis Rollins Velocity TrioAlice Grace & Pawel JedrzejewskiJasmine (a Leeds-based band led by alto saxophonist Jasmine Whalley), Mick Shoulder's Swing Manouche and the Sue Ferris Quartet. Tickets £15 - book now!

Sunday (August 16) won't cost you a bean (now there's a bargain!). The action includes the trumpet-guitar pairing of Pete 'Strictly Smokin'' Tanton and Lloyd Wright (venue TBC) and at the Tyneside Cinema a screening (free of charge, ticket required) of Abi Lewis' award-winning documentary film Geordie Jazz Man (6:00pm) about Keith Crombie, the man who ran the Jazz Cafe on Pink Lane for twenty years and more. The weekend draws to a close with Emma Fisk and James Birkett entertaining cinema-goers. 

It's anyone's guess how the world will look like four months from now but one thing you can do right now is book your tickets to show support for a mid-summer jazz party which is definitely something to look forward to! 
Russell
Tickets: 

3 comments :

Michael Lamb said...

Thank you Russell! Our fingers are firmly crossed...

Anyone purchasing tickets can do so in the knowledge that if Covid wreaks havoc, everything is fully refundable!

Patti said...

Yeah! Let’s try and stay optimistic ...... keep on keeping up!

Steve T said...

While I'm quite happy sitting at home surrounded by piles of books, CDs and DVDs; like the next wo/man, I like a few beers down the local with Fen; preferably with some live music. If restrictions are lifted sooner,do we have a venue and a couple of bands ready to go?
Perhaps the way forward is to book larger venues but sell fewer tickets, not generally a problem with jazz. Mrs T thought this may cause problems in terms of providing adequate cleaning.
Big Bands should maybe be a little more concerned but, on the positive side, remember what happened the last time the Big Bands went down.
In the meantime, I'll be purchasing tickets for this come payday and remain - as they say - cautiously optimistic.

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