Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
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: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

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

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

CD Review: Ever Since The World Ended – Lauren White and the Quinn Johnson Trio

Yet another great value CD with skilled singing and more-than-competent instrumentalists. So why am I complaining? Simply because it is a reviewer's nightmare trying to think of something appropriate and original to say, that's why. This is Ms White's fifth CD (two of which were reviewed by our editor in 2016 and 2019) and hopefully not her last. 

The album was created against the background of loneliness, isolation and general disruption of daily life caused by Covid, in order to gain some help by making and sharing music. 

The songs chosen reflect the wide range of emotions experienced by our singer during the pandemic.So we have a pleasing alto voice on If You Never Fall In Love With Me, fast and lively, with tricky out-of-rhythm piano; lyrics of cheerful irony on Ever Since the World Ended, 'It's just as well the world ended, it wasn't working anyway'; Alone Together, a meaningful love song; short lines and stop/start rhythm on Take Love Easy. Yet in some ways I liked the last track best; Shattered, just 2.35 minutes long, a short and effective evocation of a love affair that has ended, illustrated by a 'shattering' sound from the cymbals.

Ms White is an actor who has performed in musical theatre on and off Broadway. Music has always been part of her life and she performs regularly in Los Angeles clubs and in New York City. The trio are all well established musicians. Johnson has performed with the likes of Rod Stewart and Diana Ross. Henry has worked with many well known musical artists and is a composer and producer, and Brinker is an experienced musician who was Grammy-nominated as co-arranger for Best Arangement Accompanying a Vocalist.

Ann Alex

The CD will be available everywhere from March 26. Link.

If You Never Fall In Love With Me; Just the Two Of Us; Ever Since the World Ended: Alone Together: Remembering the Rain; Some of That Sunshine; Take Love Easy; Shattered

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