Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

From This Moment On

October.

Mon 05: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
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: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Sunday, June 06, 2021

The Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Radio Rooms, Berwick - June 6

(Photo by Russell)
John Faragher (clarinet, vocals); ? (trumpet); Ruth Alder-Bateman (piano, vocals); Brian Martin (banjo); Brian Smith (double bass); Les Turnbull (drums)

A new Sunday afternoon session in Berwick upon Tweed, new to BSH, that is, prompted a first visit to the Radio Rooms. Little did your correspondent know the old bridge across the Tweed was closed for repairs which necessitated a detour over the Royal Tweed Bridge. Oh, well, at least the sun was shining! 

Why the 'Radio Rooms'? Well, inside the 'live music and events space' on Main Street there is a collection of old radios. Everyone should have a hobby. The band in question, the Tweed River Jazz Band, can be heard every week playing its infectious, enthusiastic brand of Dixieland jazz. A sad aspect of the band's post-lockdown resumption is the loss of Peter Roughead. Trumpeter and band leader Mr Roughead died earlier this year. Addressing the audience clarinetist John Faragher said the Tweed River would continue in Mr Roughead's memory. All pesent welcomed Mr Faraghers words. 

Faragher leads by example with boundless energy and enthusiasm. Bassist Brian Smith and drummer Les Turnbull are old hands at this game and didn't require further instruction, likewise Brian Martin playing some half-decent banjo. Two full sets - 60 minutes x 2 - opened with Bill Bailey (will he ever come home?) and from there on in it was one familiar/done to death number after another.. Pianist Ruth Alder-Bateman sang many numbers - big voice, booming PA, a voice likely to be suited to Dolly Parton country tunes. 

The Tweed River Jazz Band plays for the love of it. They're not in it for the money, indeed, over the years, Peter Roughead and co have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity. Long may they continue.
Russell

Set list: (Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey; I Get the Blues When it Rains*; Hindustan; Georgia on My Mind*; When You're Smiling*; Mean to Me*; Runnin' Wild*; I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby*; Indiana; In the Sweet Bye and Bye1*; I'm Gonna Sit Down and Write Myself a Letter; Doctor Jazz; St Louis Blues*; Ice Cream*; His Eye is on the Sparrow*. 

* Ruth Alder-Bateman vocal number. 
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