Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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

Sunday, February 14, 2021

Jo Harrop: Valentine's Day live stream from the 606

Jo Harrop (vocals); Jamie McCredie (guitar); Sam Watts (piano); Jihad Darwish (double bass) Pete Adam Hill (drums) 

Valentine's Day. What better way to spend the evening than in the company of Jo Harrop? Live streaming from the 606, London, our exiled superstar sang a set of love songs for the occasion. Exiled? Yes, Jo is from 'up north', County Durham to be precise, making it big in London. With Jo this evening, some of her favourite musicians, including Tyneside ex-pat guitarist Jamie McCredie. The set list would comprise GASbook gems and a couple of new tunes Jo has written with friends on the London scene. 

You'd be so Nice to Come Home to opened the set, Jo in fine voice from the first note. So many great tunes played by a great band - McCredie, pianist Sam Watts and Jo's regular bass and drums boys, Jihad Darwish and Pete Adam Hill. Moon River most effective, I Love Being Here With You vying for tune of the night, absolutely flying, McCredie knocking out a swinging solo. This was the business! What a Little Moonlight Can Do taken at a lick, smiles all round, tremendous! From Camelot, Lerner and Loewe's If Ever I Would Leave You, a choice selection, rarely heard, stripped down to a duet - Jo's voice, Sam Watt's romantic piano accompaniment. Excellent. 

If you can't find love, you can always buy love said Jo. Cue Love for Sale. Shout outs to some of Jo's 'up north' supporters in Newcastle and Chester le Street. A late observation, signifying nothing in particular...all on stage except Jo were wearing headgear of one kind or another. Fine and Mellow featured top draw piano playing from Watts, an expressive bass solo from Darwish and an exchange of scatted fours between Jo and Jamie. And that was it. Good night.                 
Russell 

Set list included: You'd be so Nice to Come Home to; I've Got a Crush on You; Moon River; The Way You Look Tonight; Confessin'; I Love Being Here With You; My Funny Valentine; What a Little Moonlight Can Do; If Ever I Would Leave You; Love for Sale; Fine and Mellow  
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3 comments :

JERRY said...

Did your stream work well, Russell? We were plagued by jumping and buffering all through the show which I blamed on our often unreliable internet connection here. This was particularly galling given the excellence of the music on offer.
JERRY

Monday, February 15, 2021 8:54:00 am
Russell said...

Hi Jerry,no problems at all here on Tyneside. As you say, Jo and the boys were great. It'll be nice to hear Jo in concert once again, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:50:00 am
JERRY said...

I'll drink to that!

Monday, February 15, 2021 6:37:00 pm

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