Bebop Spoken There

Ethan Hawke (starring as Lorenz Hart in Blue Moon): ''Larry [Lorenz] Hart would be so happy that his music and his words and his poetry are still alive.'' - The Northern Echo 27 November 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

18000 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 964 of them this year alone and, so far, 73 this month (Nov. 24).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 06: Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 06: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Minor Swing. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 06: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 06: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76 (inc. bf).
Sat 06: Kaberry Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £15.00. (inc. hot buffet). ‘Christmas 1945’. Kaberry Big Band, formerly Vermont Big Band.
Sat 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ Platform 1, Bedlington. 7:30pm. £6.00. Rhythm & blues.
Sat 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. Xmas Party with buffet.
Sat 06: The Jive Aces @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 8:00pm. £22.00., £20.00.
Sat 06: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 07: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. special guest Donna Hewitt (sax, clarinet).
Sun 07: Finn-Keeble Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 07: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 07: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 07: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Trio + Ruth Lambert.
Sun 07: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 07: Jason Isaacs Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 5:15pm (4:00pm doors). £21.50 (inc. bf).
Sun 07: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 07: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Support set from Play More Jazz! course participants. Note earlier start.

Mon 08: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 09: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm

Wed 10: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 10: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 10: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 10: Mike Lindup Jazz Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £26.50 (inc. bf). Lindup, Yolanda Charles (bass), John Sam (drums).
Wed 10: Bold Big Band @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00.

Thu 11: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: West Coast (cool ) / Wordsearch (cool) Cool Jazz or ‘Cold’, ‘Cool’, ‘Hot’, ‘Warm’ in the title or lyrics.
Thu 11: George Robinson @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £5.42 (inc. bf). Vienna’s Voice charity evening featuring ’15 year old singing sensation the ‘Redcar Crooner’ George Robinson’. Over 35s only.
Thu 11: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. back tapes.
Thu 11: Ransom Van @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 11: Down for the Count Swing Orchestra @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:30pm. £37.70 (inc. bf). ‘Swing into Xmas’.

Fri 12: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 12: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 12: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 12: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ Northumberland Club, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £15.00. ‘Xmas Soiree’.
Fri 12: A Jazzy Xmas @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax, soprano sax); Matthew Forster (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 12: Tony Hadley: Xmas Big Band Tour 2025 @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Fri 12: Alexia Gardner @ The New Ship Inn, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. 8:00pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy, Abbie Finn.
Fri 12: Jive Aces: Swingin’ Xmas Show @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 8:00pm.

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, June 17, 2020

No need to go to Montréal. Montréal is coming to you!

(Press release)

The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal presented by TD Bank Group in collaboration with Rio Tinto is pleased to announce some very good and welcome news: This summer, there will be live music! From June 27th to 30th, 2020, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal presents a special edition of the Festival on our digital platforms.  


As an exclusive treat for music fans from all over the world this summer, the Festival will be taking digital platforms by storm, offering unique and dynamic musical content featuring many of the Festival’s favorite local artists performing live, filmed with extremely high-quality production value, worthy of the Festival standard. With invaluable support from TD Bank Group and Rio Tinto and our public partners the Government of Canada, the Government of Québec and the city of Montreal, this special edition of the Festival aims to create unique and memorable moments for loyal Festival goers, accessible via montrealjazzfest.com.  The digital shift for 2020 allows the Festival to maintain its role as a prominent platform for jazz music by continuing to reach more communities while adhering to the government's safety guidelines during the Covid-19 crisis.     



This special edition of the Festival is a gift for Montreal fans, the jazz community, the Festival team, partners, and to all the passionate music lovers all over the world who revel in the opportunity to be moved by something as magical as live music.  


The digital edition of the Festival includes a takeover of Montreal’s iconic L’Astral, on the ground floor of La Maison des Festivals in the heart of Quartier des Spectacles (home of the Festival), which has been transformed into a bespoke broadcast studio for this unique series of performances. For 4 days, some of the Festival’s favourite local artists will perform special sets that will be available for FREE online, which can be viewed by fans from the comfort of their own homes!  


Starting June 27th, on Canadian Multicultural Day, and for the duration of this special edition, the Festival will be celebrating once again this year with a dynamic lineup of artists showcasing the diverse talents and cultures that make up our country. Performances will take place every evening starting with the Apéros SAQ - a series of unique performances courtesy of some of the Festival's favourite artists, broadcast LIVE from L'Astral. There will then be exclusive sets, the Sessions TD and the Rythmes Rio Tinto, which are sure to please music fans of all ages, also filmed at L'Astral. This will be followed by a gem from the Festival archives of legendary concerts from past editions of the Festival. What’s more, the opening night will wrap up with a party, the Fin de soirée Loto-Québec, which everyone is invited to join. This special edition of the Festival on our digital platforms will feature the same high standard of production quality that attendees of the Festival have come to expect with a multi camera setup, helmed by director Maxime Théoret-Bissonnette (Bonsoir, Bonsoir -- Radio-Canada). Of course, all of this will be done while respecting all the public health guidelines established by the government for everyone working in the venue.  


The lineup of talent participating in the digital Festival is a veritable who’s who of local luminaries and some of the best artists the city has to offer. Fans will be wowed by unique performances from the likes of Quebec superstar Charlotte Cardin; piano wiz Jean-Michel Blais; Indie rock and blues champs The Barr Brothers; JUNO and Polaris Music prize-nominated singer-songwriter Dominique Fils-Aimée; Inuk singer, the soulful Elisapie; fan and Festival favourite Jordan Officer, as well as Pierre Kwenders; Alain Caron trio avec Paul Brochu et John Roney; Jeremy Dutcher; Jack Broadbent; Fredy V. & The Foundation; Clerel; Malika Tirolien; Jacques Kuba Séguin; Bïa; Rafael Zaldivar; Marianne Trudel; Naya Ali; Djely Tapa; Carl Mayotte; and Mateo. The full schedule will be announced in the coming days. 


“It is of the utmost importance for us to continue to bring the jazz Festival to the people”, says the Festival’s General Manager Jacques K. Primeau, “and despite the challenging circumstances this year, we are thrilled to be able to offer an innovative solution to get the music out to the fans! We are also extremely proud to offer artists a chance to do what they do best, perform for all of us!”  


All the exclusive live performances will also be available on demand separately on all the Jazz fest digital platforms right after the live broadcast each night.  


The Festival would like to extend a huge thank you to its collaborators, TD Bank GroupRio Tinto, the Government of Canada, the Government of Québec and the city of Montreal for believing in the project and for making this digital version of the Festival possible.  


‘It’s because of collaborators like TD Bank Group, Rio Tinto and the support of our public partners that we’re able to bring this special edition to Festival goers from across the globe… #JazzTogether is truly a community and a family affair! It’s incredible to see it all come together!” added Jacques K. Primeau. 


''Music brings us together and reminds us that we are all connected through shared passions and ideas even when we’re apart, mentions Sylvie Demers, Chair, Quebec Market, TD Bank Group.  That is why we are proud to support this special and unique edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival'' 


The Festival would also like to extend its gratitude to all public and private partners and collaborators for supporting the Festival over the past 40 years:   


Thanks to the Festival’s presenting sponsor TD Bank Group and our co-presenting sponsor Rio Tinto for their renewed trust. As well as, Loto-Québec, la Société des Alcools du QuébecHeinekenHyundaiLes Producteurs de lait du Québec and other collaborators. 


The Festival would also like to thank the three levels of government and to the organizations for their constant support: the Government of Canada — Canada Economic Development, the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Musicaction Foundation —, the Government of Québec — the Secrétariat à la région métropolitaine and the SODEC —, as well as the city of Montréal and Tourisme Montréal


The Festival would also like to highlight the support of its media partners: Radio-CanadaLa Press & 98.5.


A warm and big THANK YOU to the entire Festival team under the leadership of Jacques K. Primeau and Laurent Saulnier for contributing to the production of this special edition of the Festival on our digital platforms and who work all year round to bring the magic of the Festival to life! To the artists whose collaboration in making this Festival so unique is tremendously appreciated, and above all, thanks to the fans, who will help the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal presented by TD Bank Group in collaboration with Rio Tinto with to shine again in 2021 and for many years to come.  


We are thrilled that the power of music is there to unite us once again! From June 27th to 30th 2020, Le Festival International de Jazz de Montréal’s special edition on our digital platforms is coming!  

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