Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

From This Moment On

August

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). 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: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Friday, July 17, 2020

New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings - Press Release (July 2020)


Launching this October in association with the Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music we are crowdfunding to establish a bespoke, ethically driven record label run by artists in which to present unique international jazz and improvisation.
New ideas and new sounds for a new decade.

Pre-order our first releases, pay it forward and pledge to be part of something new as we put down the foundations for an environmentally-friendly label supporting artist independence, investing in independent music studios and supporting carbon neutral sustainable businesses to manufacture and deliver our products.


Established in 2017, the Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music was set to present the fourth edition this coming October 2020, but like many others, due to Covid-19, it is not possible to stage this year's event.

The idea of a label directly associated with the festival has been considered for a number of years, and now with some freedom of time, and a lack of live performance situations on offer to artists and audiences, we’ve decided this is a great moment to put alternative plans to action.
Whilst the postponement of this year's festival was not a decision anyone wished to make, it has been taken to ensure the wellbeing of all involved.

However, with restless energy and putting the little grey cells into action, we hope to react positively and creatively by continuing to present high-quality jazz and improvised music through a different channel.

NEW JAZZ AND IMPROVISED MUSIC RECORDINGS

Our initial crowdfunder has been launched to generate enough income for our first three releases with audiences buying advance copies, or simply investing into our set up costs.
The level of funding is set to cover the production costs of manufacturing our first three ecologically friendly CD pressings, alongside some studio costs and creating an online digital presence through a website and Bandcamp.

The Artistic Director and Producer of Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music will work closely with local and international musicians, graphic designers and studio engineers to create high-quality bespoke releases, with every aspect of the music production through to graphic artwork and presentation given full attention to detail.

Given the international nature of releases and flexibility currently required with social distancing, recordings will come from a number of studios and live performance situations. In Newcastle Upon Tyne future plans include working with both Blast and Blank Studios in Ouseburn for recording and mastering to ensure the high quality audio of each release.

There are no festival tickets to buy this year but we sincerely hope audiences might invest in this new initiative as we continue to engage world class jazz and improvising musicians and encourage sustainability for crucial independent music studios and carbon neutral manufacturing plants.

RELEASES and PRODUCTION

Each release will be presented through CD’s in Eco Digipacks made entirely from 100% recycled card, egg boxes and cork. Sleeves will also be banded with a recycled matt card Obi strip adding a collectors element and emphasising the unique label identity. Further emphasising the sustainable nature of our releases each digipack will be housed in 100% compostable and biodegradable environmentally friendly wrap.

Our products will be manufactured in a carbon neutral pressing plant using 100% renewable energy and similarly delivered through a carbon neutral courier, finally arriving at your door in fully recyclable and biodegradable packaging envelopes.

THE ARTISTS and PROJECT RELEASES
JOHN POPE QUINTET
Project Release: Debut Album

Featuring John Pope (Bass) / Faye MacCalman (Tenor Saxophone and Clarinet) / Jamie Stockbridge (Alto Saxophone) / Graham Hardy (Trumpet) / Johnny Hunter (Drums) The debut album from the Northern UK based Quintet with recording dates set for this coming October and a subsequent album support tour throughout 2021.
Releasing: January 2021

PAUL TAYLOR
Project Release: Via

An urgent collection of new Solo Piano recordings entitled 'Via' recorded in March 2020 just prior to lockdown measures being imposed.
Releasing: December 2020

LAURA TOXVAERD / JACOB ANDERSKOV / MARIA FAUST
Project Release: Live from Winterjazz in Copenhagen 2020

The Danish / Estonian Trio of Saxophones and Piano recorded live at Winterjazz in Copenhagen,

February 2020.
Releasing: November 2020

Please do help to spread the word and for more details to engage with this project visit...

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