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

18035 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 999 of them this year alone and, so far, 13 this month (Dec. 7).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Wed 10: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 10: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 10: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 10: Mike Lindup Jazz Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £26.50 (inc. bf). Lindup, Yolanda Charles (bass), John Sam (drums).
Wed 10: Bold Big Band @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00.

Thu 11: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: West Coast (cool ) / Wordsearch (cool) Cool Jazz or ‘Cold’, ‘Cool’, ‘Hot’, ‘Warm’ in the title or lyrics.
Thu 11: George Robinson @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £5.42 (inc. bf). Vienna’s Voice charity evening featuring ’15 year old singing sensation the ‘Redcar Crooner’ George Robinson’. Over 35s only. CANCELLED!
Thu 11: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. back tapes.
Thu 11: Ransom Van @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 11: Down for the Count Swing Orchestra @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:30pm. £37.70 (inc. bf). ‘Swing into Xmas’.

Fri 12: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 12: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 12: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 12: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ Northumberland Club, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £15.00. ‘Xmas Soiree’.
Fri 12: Customs House Big Band @ Stocksfield Community Centre, Mount View, Stocksfield NE43 7HL. 7: 30pm. Tickets £10.00 from: admin@stocksfieldca.org.uk. CHBB feat. Ruth Lambert.
Fri 12: A Jazzy Xmas @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax, soprano sax); Matthew Forster (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 12: Tony Hadley: Xmas Big Band Tour 2025 @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Fri 12: Alexia Gardner @ The New Ship Inn, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. 8:00pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy, Abbie Finn. CANCELLED!
Fri 12: Jive Aces: Swingin’ Xmas Show @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 8:00pm.

Sat 13: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).
Sat 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 13: Teresa Watson Band @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sat 13: Washboard Resonators @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).
Sat 13: Salty Dog @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:45pm. Americana, blues, jazz.
Sat 13: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).

Sun 14: Musicians Unlimited + Darlington Big Band @ West Hartlepool RFC. 12 noon-6:00pm. £9.00. Musicians Unlimited’s Xmas Party.
Sun 14: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 14: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 6:30pm. £15.18 (inc. bf).
Sun 14: Paul Skerritt @ The Black Candle, South Shields. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 14: Sean Noonan Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 15: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 16: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Tue 16: A Jazzy Xmas @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Kyran Matthews (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).
Tue 16: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 17: Lazy River Band @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Veronica Perrin, Chris Perrin, Phil Rutherford ao.
Wed 17: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 17: Paul Skerritt @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Wed 17: A Jazzy Xmas @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Kyran Matthews (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).
Wed 17: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Wednesday, May 05, 2021

XPQ: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Nigel Price Quartet live streaming from Guildford Jazz - May 5

(Screenshot by Russell)
Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax); Nigel Price (guitar); Dario Di Lecce (double bass); Winston Clifford (drums)

The Boileroom is a music, arts and community venue Guildford Jazz calls home. This evening's concert featured XPQ, a quartet co-led by tenor saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos and guitarist Nigel Price alongside regular bassist Dario Di Lecce and ace drummer Winston Clifford. The set would draw upon XPQ's 2017 album Sidekicks comprising tunes written by famous saxophone-guitar collaborations.

(Screenshot by Russell)

The boys kicked-off with Lyresto (comp. J. Coltrane & K. Burrell). Sound balance just about right, a relaxed opening. Local lad Dave Cliff (Blaydon-on-Tyne) composed The Right Time with Geoff Simkins, and Price did justice to his fellow six-stringer, Dario Di Lecce chipping in with a concise solo followed by a polished round of fours.

(Screenshot by Russell)

Xenopoulos introduced If Ever I Will Leave You (comp. S. Rollins & J. Hall), not from the XPD album but definitely worthy of a place in tonight's set list. Taken with a Latin lilt, VX stretched out, making it look and sound so easy, Winston Clifford shining with a controlled, brief solo. Introducing Full House the irony wasn't lost on Price that they were playing to anything but a full house in the Boileroom. Ah, but we were a virtual house! Price reckoned the album of the same name was his favourite Wes Montgomery recording and with Johnny Griffin, correction, Vasilis Xenopoulos, alongside, it cooked, big time! So much so, at its conclusion VX laughed, saying they should play something a little slower to enable him to catch his breath. When Joanna Loved Me from the Paul Desmond-Jim Hall pairing gave him some respite. Stating the theme, VX stood in the wings listening to a most musical bass solo courtesy of Di Lecce. 

Full House notwithstanding, Mr P had been relatively subdued, until now...Ready and Able (Johnny Cuba and George Benson) 'without', said Price, 'a safety net'. And off they went, full pelt. All four tore it up...Yeah! Yeah! More! 

Jimmy Heath and Kenny Burrell's On the Trail, inspired by Ferde Grofé's early thirties' Grand Canyon Suite, concluded the live stream, VX blowing tremendous tenor to an empty room but a Wes Montgomery virtual full house. Superb. Ah! One more, a quick one, a blues, Price's Straight No Bounce, our composer saying it was a hybrid of Straight No Chaser and Billie's Bounce. Yep, superb. 

A Q & A followed. Several questions from the online audience...Favourite musicians? How was it in lockdown? How long did you/do you practice? Nigel Price summed it up saying: You've just got to put the hours in. Xenopoulos revealed he had doubts about the future for musicians, the possibility/prospect of retraining. Forget that, Vasilis, when you get back out on the road there will be an audience. You can bet on it.  

XPD is one of the great working units and as and when these guys hit the road again - and they will! - be sure to catch them. This is what live music is all about, no messing, honest, heart and soul stuff. 

This evening's concert was presented by Guildford Jazz in association with Berkhampstead Jazz, Colchester Arts Centre Jazz Club, Chichester Jazz Club, Fleet Jazz Club and Scarborough Jazz. 
Russell

Set list: Lyresto; The Right Time; If Ever I Will You; Full House; When Joanna Loved Me; Ready and Able; On the Trail. Straight No Bounce.  
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