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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17755 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 76 of them this year alone and, so far, 1 this month (Feb.1).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Tue 04: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.
Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Phillips, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.
Tue 04: Dilutey Juice + Life Aquatics Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Lewis Watson Quartet @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Latin jazz/top-rated dance bands.
Thu 06: Rose Room @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 06: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Helen Barber (vocals) & Alex Moon (piano).
Thu 06: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. Guests: Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Donna Hewitt (alto sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Graham Thompson (keys); Ron Smith (bass). 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session is now monthly, first Thursday in the month.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 07: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Old Lowlight, Clifford’s Fort, North Shields NE30 1JE. 7:00pm. £15.00. + bf. www.oldlowlight.co.uk. SOLD OUT!
Fri 07: Stuart Turner Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Jazz, blues, Americana etc.
Fri 07: Dean Stockdale Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 07: Rose Room @ Wylam Institute. 8:00pm. £19.67.
Fri 07: John Rowland Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 08: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 08: Anth Purdy @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. ‘Swing Jazz Guitar’.
Sat 08: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra event. All welcome.

Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. 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, August 13, 2020

RIP Brian Whittle.

Lewis Watson sent me the sad news that well known northeast reeds player and teacher has passed on. I'm sure there must be many musicians with fond memories of this great musician who would like to share them with us - Lance
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My old friend and teacher Brian Whittle died on 11th August in hospital in Spain, I hope this posting is seen by some of the many people that studied and worked with Brian over many years, a wonderful Alto player, much loved and respected by all who were fortunate to know him.  Rip.Brian

Lewis Watson

7 comments :

Richard Emmerson (On F/b) said...

That's sad news. A lovely man and a great player. I had the pleasure of playing alongside him in The Little Big Band on Tyneside in the 80's and occasionally with Voice of the North. Unforgettable!

Ian Stocks (On F/b) said...

Brian and I worked several times together. He was a fine saxophone player..several funny stories about him and Arthur...sad news .

CCJAZZMEN said...

Very sad news indeed. Brian was one of the tutors when I was at the College Of Arts and Technology in Newcastle in the early 1970's and he used to take the student big band.

I will never forget being late for a rehearsal, and there is nothing worse than walking in
and everyone looking at you, Brian looked at me and said 'Teddy Foster' would never stand for this ! most students had know idea who Teddy Foster was, but he knew I did..

Wonderful teacher & musician. R.I.P.

Colin Aitchison (Hong Kong)

Peter 'Tubby' Ayton said...

So Sorry to hear of the passing of Brian-great sax player with a wonderful sense of humour. I worked alongside him when I taught bass at Newcastle College and played with him in various bands and ensembles over the years.Visited him at home one day, he invited me to his garden shed, to show me some of his wood carving, and the lathe he used, I hadn't been aware of his talent in this direction. I am sure Brian will be ok where he is now, as long as they don't have to play 'In the Mood'! - RIP Brian - Peter 'Tubby' Ayton.

Ray Harley said...

Brian Whittle, I would just like to say that he was just such a lovely unassuming man who I had so much admiration for and my pal in Portugal, Gary Cox was also in awe of the man.

Jason Greenwell said...

Very sad to discover Brian has passed on. He was my first sax tutor at New College Durham in the 80's. I used to love listening to his stories about his musical escapades. The mixtapes he used to make still contain some of my favourite music to date - sorry Brian I never did master the alto sax solo from 'Invincible' (Don Ellis). An inspiring teacher and a lovely man.

Unknown said...

Brian Whittle taught myself and others clarinet at Rutherford High School in the 60s a really lovely patient man and a fantastic teacher, I always remember his suede shoes RIP with grateful memories. Janice Mein as I was then

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