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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025 Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Friday, June 25, 2021

LIVE JAZZ RETURNS TO NEWCASTLE

(Press release)

Event: NEWCASTLE JAZZ FESTIVAL 2021
Dates: Friday 13th August, Saturday 14th August, Sunday 15th August 2021
 
Celebrating the return of live jazz and live audiences this summer, with an exciting programme featuring local and national artists, the Newcastle Jazz Festival 2021 takes place over three days in August with music covering jazz, funk, hiphop, bebop and more. Performances will be at three locations: Flat Caps Coffee on Carliol Street, Newcastle Civic Centre and the Tyne Bank Brewery.
 
Says Michael Lamb, Director of Newcastle Jazz Festival: ‘With Covid-19 having been so devastating to the Arts industry we are looking forward to reuniting musicians and audiences and celebrating live music again.’
 
Headliners include The Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio on Saturday 14th August and trumpeter Jay Phelps, playing with a north east house trio on Sunday 15th August.  
 
As part of an exciting double bill on Friday night, the Dean Stockdale Trio are programmed alongside the ever popular Strictly Smokin’ Big Band. The band returns to the festival this year debuting their new album Strictly Smokin’ Big Band Sings Ella Fitzgerald with Alice Grace.
 
Kicking off the festival with a free afternoon of jazz will be two local duos: trumpet and guitar duo Pete Tanton and Lloyd Wright, and vocalist Ruth Lambert with bassist Ian Paterson. The weekend’s performances will see a selection of bands brought to us by Jazz North’s Northern Line Programme: Not Now Charlie and SoGo Rock. The JASMINE Quintet, who featured in the 2020 online version of the festival, are performing on the Saturday: “I'm excited to be a part of the festival again and to be included in such a brilliant line-up. I can't wait to perform in person this year!” says bandleader Jasmine Whalley. Other local musicians include duo Alice Grace & Pawel Jedrzejewski, Swing Manouche, Abbie Finn Trio, Gerry Richardson Quartet and the Sue Ferris Quartet. 
 
The event is in partnership with Tyne Bank Brewery, Jazz North and Newcastle City Council.
 
Tickets are on sale now. Festival goers can buy a full Festival Pass at the special rate of £35, which encompasses all three days and all three locations, or individual tickets for each day. Events on Saturday and Sunday are family friendly, with street food on sale from local vendors.
 
For more information and to buy tickets, please go to our  website

Social Media:
- Facebook: @newcastlejazzfest
- Instagram: @newcastlejazzfest
- Twitter: @NCLjazzfest

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