Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
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: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Julija Jacenaite (vocals).

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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.
Wed 14: NW FRQNC @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.00. Selina Albright, Gianni Vancini.
Wed 14: Jacob Egglestone Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Sunday, December 20, 2020

A Christmas Sunday Service with Adrian Cox & Nils Solberg - Dec. 20

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals); Nils Solberg (guitar, vocals)

The last one of the year. Plans to live stream from Gun Hill Studios with Liane Carroll were shelved some days ago. Stepping into the breach, Adrian Cox's old sparring partner, Mr. Nils Solberg. Cox and Solberg have worked together many times over the the last decade, including several lockdown Sunday Service sermons. The pair engaged in some convivial conversation before beginning today's set. Much hilarity as neither could remember the title of the first number! Eventually, with much snapping of fingers...You Took Advantage of Me, Adrian singing. Anything Adrian could do...Nils sang Walking My Baby Back Home. 
A request for Stardust...'before 1:30'! Anything to oblige, at 1:18, Adrian and Nils played it to an early afternoon Facebook audience of no fewer than 115 fans (Adrian, clarinet and vocals, Nils guitar accompaniment). Right, folks said Adrian. It's Christmas. So our duo played a relaxed I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas, Adrian singing, Nils chipping in. Sy Oliver's Opus One (a hit for Tommy Dorsey, popular with fans of Ted Heath), joint vocals, festival bonhomie! A glance at the set list, If You Were the Only Girl in the World with some superb guitar playing from Nils. Me and My Shadow, Nils singing, Adrian's turn to chip in, reminiscent of Morecambe and Wise. 

Adrian looked out of the window, the clouds had cleared, saying he'd like to play Nuage, Nils quipping: You cannot be Cirrus!  How very droll! Nils turn to sing one - You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You. Adrian suggested Nils could sing the next one. Nils replied: We'll both sing it, I don't want to take the blame! Adrian requested the audience sing along. Altogether now...Just hear those sleigh bells jingling...Several choruses later, Adrian motioned to his pal Nils; One and out.  Time to go, two tunes, back to back...When You're Smiling, slow tempo, then with a swish of Adrian's liquorice stick, double time, fun time. And to close, the boys went out swinging on Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (this Friday, tier restrictions or not). Adrian Cox's Sunday Service will return in January. 
Russell             

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