Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Charlie Parker was my introduction to the religion of music. And so he's always with me .'' - Downbeat November 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

17950 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 914 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Nov. 7).

From This Moment On ...

November

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Thu 04: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Seasonal/Festive Music & Songs - autumn into winter.
Thu 13: Awen Ensemble @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Jazz-folk.
Thu 13: SwanNek + Ellen Beth Adbi + Phantom Bagman @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. A BBC Introducing event.

Fri 14: Dan Johnson Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 14: Giles Strong Quartet @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £32.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 14: Guisborough Big Band @ Saltburn Golf Club. 7:30pm. £12.00 (inc. pie & peas). SOLD OUT!

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:00-9:30pm.
Sat 15: Les Frères Frangipane @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 8:00pm (doors 7:30pm). £10.00. ‘Chanson Française’. Fundraiser for Jesmond Community Orchard & Jesmond Library.

Sun 16: Jo Harrop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Duo performance.
Sun 16: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. ‘Jazz Sunday’ with special guest PETE TANTON.
Sun 16: Lorne Lofsky-Nigel Price Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Lofsky (guitar); Price (guitar); Jeremy Brown (double bass); Joel Barford (drums).
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: Lorne Lofsky-Nigel Price Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Lofsky (guitar); Price (guitar); Jeremy Brown (double bass); Joel Barford (drums).

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 17: Finn-Keeble Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

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

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Star Names Confirmed For Return Of Cheltenham Jazz Festival

 (Press release)

*Two-day digital festival in May will be followed by a series of live in-person concerts in July*

**Gregory Porter, Soweto Kinch, Steve Winwood, Cleveland Watkiss and Marisha Wallace amongst artists confirmed to perform**

Cheltenham Jazz Festival is set to return in 2021 with a free-to-view, two-day digital event taking place across the May Bank Holiday weekend followed by a series of ticketed in-person concerts at Cheltenham Town Hall over three nights in July (government guidance permitting). The festival will present an array of world-class shows from a varied selection of established stars, heritage legends and emerging talent from across the jazz, pop and soul spectrum. The weekend will be hosted by BBC 6Music presenter Cerys Matthews and the Festival’s Artistic Curator Gregory Porter.

The first artists to be announced for this year’s digital festival include a headline show from one of the singular soul voices of the ‘60s and ‘70s, the British rhythm and blues star Steve Winwood. Winwood will be premiering brand new material recorded during lockdown; the streamed concert will top the bill on Saturday May 1. Additional acts lined up for the May Bank Holiday programme include, pioneering saxophonist and rapper Soweto Kinch leading players from Birmingham Conservatoire, record-breaking beatboxer, producer and live-looper SK Shlomo , distinguished British vocalist Cleveland Watkiss, shows from rising star saxophonists Rachael CohenFaye McCalman and Lara Jones, revered sibling duo Zoe & Idris Rahman, and a premiere from guitarist Chris Montague, who will unveil his new trio Warmer Than Blood featuring Kit Downes on piano and Ruth Goller on bass. Also performing will be ensembles from the innovative jazz development organisations Tomorrow’s Warriors and Birmingham Town Hall and Symphony Hall’s Rise Up.

A vibrant selection of international acts will also appear across the weekend including Broadway and West End star Marisha Wallace, Cuban trumpeter Yelfris Valdes, French singer Leïla Martialwith her Baa Box group, and a first UK show from Portuguese punk-jazz outfit The Rite of Trio.

Head of Programming, David Gaydon, said: “This weekend reflects the breadth that Cheltenham Jazz Festival offers, giving a platform to some fabulous young upcoming artists as well as international stars, and with more exciting announcements to come."

The festival’s live programme in July, which will be taking place following the proposed easing of lockdown restrictions, will feature a selection of the leading lights of the UK scene, with acts to be announced in May.

The 2021 programme continues the Festival’s focus on championing women in jazz. One of the first to sign up to the PRS Foundation’s Keychange programme, Cheltenham Jazz Festival is leading the debate on Women in Jazz. Research conducted at the Festival in 2019 by Dr Sarah Raine from Birmingham City University revealed that there is much work to be done to transform the landscape of the music industry in giving equity to female jazz musicians. A link to Dr Raine’s full report can be found here.

The Festival will once again run in association with BBC Radio 2 who will broadcast a special edition of Jamie Cullum’s radio show on Tuesday 4th May 2021, marking what would have been his tenth appearance at the festival, featuring highlights from some of this year’s performances alongside classic live tracks from previous years.

Cheltenham Jazz Festival is part of Cheltenham Festivals, a charity known for creating world-class cultural festivals and year-round accessible talent development, outreach and education programmes. Over 225,000 visitors a year are inspired by its Literature, Science, Jazz and Music Festivals.  

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2021

Timings and line-up are subject to change

Saturday May 1st 2021

15:00 – Rite Of Trio

15:30 - Leïla Martial

16:00 – Soweto Kinch with players from Birmingham Conservatoire

16:30 - Tomorrows Warriors

17:00 - Quiet Man

17:30 - Yelfris Valdes

18:00 - Chris Monatgue's Warmer Than Blood

18:30 - SK Shlomo

19:00 – Sarathy Korwar

19:30 - Steve Winwood

Sunday May 2nd 2021

15:00 - Faye McCalman

15:30 - Rise Up

16:00 - Arnie Somogyi with players from Birmingham Conservatoire

16:30 - Tomorrow's Warriors

17:00 - Cleveland Watkiss

18:00 - Marisha Wallace

18:30 - Lara Jones

19:30 - Zoe & Idris Rahman

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