Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

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

Tuesday, September 01, 2020

Jordan Alfonso and the Alan Law Trio, celebrating the Charlie Parker Centennial with a Jazz Coop Livestream on Sept. 6

To say that our local jazz promoters have been somewhat slow in celebrating the centennial of one of jazz's greatest and most iconic figures would be putting it mildly.

Obviously, the current climate precludes live gigs nevertheless, livestreaming is possible and, in this respect, the Jazz Coop leads the way, as it so often does, and - even though a week late as regards the actual date of the magical 100 figure - they have set up a gig featuring an alto saxist and a trio more than capable of doing "Bird". Imagine a tribute to Charlie Parker without an alto sax player! - "Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark" is the much used phrase that springs to mind!

In this case, the Prince of Denmark is Jordan Alfonso. To be or not to be is no longer a question and with Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Rob Walker (drums) Bird truly will live!
Lance

(Globe press release)

We are planning to allow audiences into The Globe as soon as we can accommodate them safely and within government guidelines.


With a solid grounding in jazz, saxophonist Jordan Alfonso has made a name for himself in multiple genres of music. Developing a solid reputation in the North East, his playing has led him to playing both as a solo artist and with bands around the UK as well as across Europe and the USA. Despite being a sought-after session musician and recording artist, he will always relish an opportunity to get back to his jazz roots, with Charlie Parker’s bebop style a fundamental influence.


Ably backed by stalwarts of the local jazz scene – Alan Law piano, Paul Grainger bass and Rob Walker drums – it should be a great night with legendary Parker quotes a plenty.

“If you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your horn.” 

So that the musicians can get paid, we ask you to make a small ‘entrance donation’, which we recommend should be £5 per person. If you are able to give a bit more this will be really welcome at this time when gig income for musicians has almost completely stopped.


TO VIEW THE LIVESTREAM GIG PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING:
1. Make a donation via the following link: https://bit.ly/2DMHb1d

Donate what you can afford, £5 per person is the suggested minimum. Please do so as early as possible, as a rush of requests just before the gig may result in some people missing the start.


2. When we have received notification of your donation we will send you an email with instructions on how to view the livestream. Please note that this is not an automated process. Our volunteers may not respond immediately. Also remember that our message will go to the email account which may not be the one you usually use with your payment

3. We recommend that you access and save the link as soon as you receive our instructions. On Sunday 6 September ‘doors open’ at 7.45pm so get comfortable and chat with other members of the audience.

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