BSH New Year's Honours list

I looked in vain for the jazzers in the 2021 New Year's Honours list and I couldn't find any - there's usually one. However, to be rewarded you  first have to be nominated and, I guess, this year even the most dedicated of jazz fans - bearing in mind the lack of live gigs - have had other priorities on their mind.

So it is only right and proper that those in the front line are rewarded for their services although a few extra quid in the back pocket would probably be more appreciated.

I did note that Bradley Creswick, lately of the Northern Sinfonia, picked up an MBE which I loudly applaud. He may not be a jazzer but, given that he has been known to do some folk fiddle I'm sure that, if the chips were down, he could knock out a few Grappelli licks.

With all this in mind I have decided to reward the following with an OBSH (Order of Bebop Spoken Here). Again there is no monetary award just the honour.

Paul Edis. Although now based in London his roots are very much still in the northeast and his lunchtime sessions during the first lockdown, during which he played well over 100 tunes without repetition, kept our spirits up - just like Dame Vera Lynn during The Blitz. Apart from that, his work as an educator during his time at Sage Gateshead led to the emergence of many future stars.

Michael Lamb. Keeping a big band going is hard work at the best of times let alone during a pandemic such as enshrouded us this year. However, Michael persevered and when restrictions made it impossible he overcame them with Zoom sessions and socially distanced small groups from the Prohibition Bar.

And, of course, no honours' list would be complete without a few Dames.

Arise Dame Lindsay Hannon, Dame Emma Fisk, Dame Alice Grace, Dame Zoë Gilby and Dame Debra Milne. All helped to make our burden lighter with live streams, recordings and, in the case of Dame Debra there was her work with the Jazz Co-op.

Lance