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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

18043 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 364 of them this year alone and, so far, 42 this month (May 15).

From This Moment On ...

MAY 2025

Mon 19: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 19: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 20: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.
Tue 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Pleased to Meet You, Bridge St., Morpeth NE61 1ND. 8:00pm.

Wed 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 21: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public). b Wed 21: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 22: Nuevo Castillo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00.
Thu 22: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:30-9:15pm. Free.
Thu 22: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 23: Dean Stockdale Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. ‘Celebrating Oscar’.
Fri 23: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 23: Anna Reay & Deon Krishnan @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: Joe Steels Group @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. + £1.55. bf. A Northumberland Jazz Festival fringe event.
Fri 23: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 23: Gaz Hughes Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm.
Fri 23: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 8:00pm. £19.00.; £17.00. ‘Time After Time’.

Sat 24: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:15pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 24: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Bywell Hall, Stocksfield. 1:30pm. Northumberland County Show.
Sat 24: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 24: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm.
Sat 24: Dean Stockdale Quartet + Mingus Sings @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm. Admission: see website: www.queenshall.co.uk. Stockdale (piano); Tim Williams (guitar); Gavin Barras (double bass); Gaz Hughes (drums) + Mingus Sings: Sara Oschlag (vocals); Alan Barnes (reeds); Tim Lapthorn (piano); Arnie Somogyi (double bass); Clark Tracey (drums). A Northumberland Jazz Festival event.
Sat 24: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 24: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sat 24: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £3.00. + bf.
Sat 24: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 25: Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion: Bandstand Sessions @ The Sele, Hexham. 12 noon. Free. A Northumberland Jazz Festival event.
Sun 25: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Northern Monkey Brass Band @ Spanish City Plaza (outdoor stage). 1:00pm. Free. A Whitley Bay Carnival event.
Sun 25: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Catriona Bourne Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Admission: see website: www.queenshall.co.uk. Bourne (harp), Francis Tulip (guitar), James Owston (double bass), Joe Bainbridge (drums). A Northumberland Jazz Festival event.
Sun 25: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Struggle Buggy @ The Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sun 25: Joe Steels Group + Norma Winstone (vocals); Nikki Iles (piano); Mike Walker (guitar); Steve Watts (double bass). 7:00pm. Admission: see website: www.queenshall.co.uk. Steels (guitar); Ferg Kilsby (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ben Lawrence (piano); Paul Susans (double bass); John Hirst (drums). A Northumberland Jazz Festival event.
Sun 25: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 25: Xhosa Cole/Neil Charles/Mark Sanders @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A JNE promotion. Note: Xhosa Cole replaces Nicole Mitchell.

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

Friday, September 04, 2020

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club to finally reopen on 19 September 2020


(Press release)
 On August 1st  the world-famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club was to throw open its doors for the first time in 137 days having been closed due the global Corona Virus pandemic.  The government had announced that indoor live music venues could re-open, but then, just a day before the first act was to take to the stage, it was to postpone its decision and the club remained closed.


Following the huge disappointment from staff and customers alike, Ronnie Scott’s  are thrilled to announce it is to finally re-open on September 19th
The Soho-based club will open with a reduced capacity of 50% , and with all the safety measures you would expect - deep cleaning, 100% fresh air air-conditioning, sanitizer stations in key areas, thermal checks on arrival and strict social distancing measures in place. It is particularly proud of the elegant screens that separate some seating areas which actually compliment the décor!  Modelled on the heady jazz joints of yesteryear and blessed with a warm, intimate setting and a unique seating layout, Ronnie Scott’s is able to observe distancing guidelines without losing any of the cosy atmosphere that audiences love.

Despite government restrictions being relaxed on August 15, the club made the decision to delay opening rather than risk further cancellations. The delay allowed the club to review its covid-safety measures with the benefit of hindsight, observing the practices of others in the hospitality sector. 

As Fred NashRonnie Scott’s General Manager explains, “ We are proud to have scored 100% in a covid-safety audit without compromising the great atmosphere of the club and not putting in measures which are quite frankly, weird or unnecessary.  We’ve all experienced strange trips to a pub”, he continues, “ where you have to navigate a seemingly pointless one-way system, download an app to order a drink only to find it doesn’t work .  We believe we can welcome customers back safely whilst maintaining the old- school hospitality values we are known for.  We’re certain that when our customers return, they will  feel we have got it just right”.

The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars, the last act to play before the closure, will  be the first to take to the stage on September 19.  Featuring vocal sensation, Natalie Williams and the club’s Musical Director, James Pearson, the band present the ‘The Soho Songbook’; classic music from the jazz greats.  Over the coming weeks, the club presents it usual mix of established jazz royalty and rising stars covering bebop to contemporary and cutting edge . Confirmed artists include jazz vocalist and Puppuni Sister, Emma Smith playing tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, young lion, Mark Kavuma, a prominent trumpet player on the British jazz scene, old-school jazz funksters, James Taylor Quartet, scalding hot saxophonist and rapper and Soweto Kinch and  genre-blurring pianist, Ashley Henry .
As Fred Nash observes, “We hope our customers, and our members, have missed live music as much as we have.  I think it is what everyone needs right now”
Ronnie Scott’s would like to thank everyone at The Music Venue Trust and UK Hospitality who have worked tirelessly with the government on helping to get businesses like theirs , to open again, safely. 

SEPT/OCT LISTING
Sat 19 Sept                        The Ronnie Scott’s Allstars perform the Soho Songbook
Sun 20 Sept (lunch)          Tom Seals
Sun 20 Aug (evening)      The Ronnie Scott’s Allstars perform the Soho Songbook 
Weds 23 Sept                    Emma Smith with Jamie Safir Trio - Portrait of Ella
Thurs 24 Sept                   The Ronnie Scott’s Allstars – ‘Time Out - A Musical Portrait of Dave Brubeck'
Fri 25 Sept                         Natalie Williams Soul Family
Sat 26 Sept                         Natalie Williams Soul Family
Sun 27 Sept (lunch)          100 years of jazz piano with James Pearson
Sun 27 Sept (evening)     Ray Gelato and the Giants
Mon 27 Sept                      Ray Gelato and the Giants
Thurs 1 Oct                        James Taylor Quartet
Fri 2 Oct                             James Taylor Quartet
Sat 3 Oct                            James Taylor Quartet
Sun 4 Oct (lunch)        Paul Ryan and Jamie Safir: 'Celebrating Tony and Bill 45 Years on’
Sun 4 Oct (evening)       Ronnie Scott’s Blues Explosion Quintet        Wed 7 Oct            Pete Long and Simon Spillett present 'A Celebration of The Jazz Couriers'
Thurs 8Oct                         Jason Rebello
Fri 9 Oct                             Ian Shaw
Sat 10 Oct                          Reuben James
Sun 11 Oct (lunch)           Celebrating Doris Day’s life in film, TV and on record
Sun 11 Oct (evening)       Cassidy Janson
Mon 12 Oct            The Horne Section - 10th anniversary celebration
Tues 13 Oct            The Horne Section - 10th anniversary celebration
Thurs 15 Oct                     Soweto Kinch
Fri 16 Oct                           Lianne Carroll
Sat 17 Oct                          Lianne Carroll
Sun 18 Oct (lunch)          Down for the Count
Sun 18 Oct (evening)      Tom Seals
Fri 23 Oct                          Ashley Henry
Sat 24 Oct                          Ashley Henry
Sun 25 Oct (lunch)       ‘Song for My Father': Celebrating The Music of Horace Silver                      
Sun 25 Oct (evening)       Ronnie Scott’s Blues Explosion Quintet   
Wed 28 Oct                       Byron Wallen
Thurs 29 Oct                     Omar Puente Cuban sextet
Fri 30 Oct                          Mark Kavuma Milestones and more
Sat 31 Oct                          Citrus Sun

Tickets and more information available www.ronniescotts.co.uk

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