Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 2026

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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 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

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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