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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. 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

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Beryl Bryden in Saltburn

On a recent visit to Saltburn Arts to catch the second of Joe Webb's two 'Art of Tatum' gigs in a day, your correspondent was alerted to an exhibition of drawings by Beryl Bryden in Saltburn Arts' bar. What's that? Beryl Bryden, skiffle era washboard ace, a visual artist? It seems few, if any, of those present were aware of Bryden's accomplishments as a portrait artist. 

Bryden's drawings on show in Saltburn are of some of the biggest names in jazz and blues. Something like twenty framed works occupy the walls of the bar and in the corridor leading to the venue's theatre space. Bryden's subjects range from George Lewis to Clarence Williams to Bessie Smith and Ella Fitzgerald. The photo shows Billie Holiday and Coleman Hawkins. 

So, how did Saltburn Arts acquire Bryden's portraits?

It's all down to one of Saltburn Arts' regular supporters inheriting the collection - quite how the family member came by them isn't entirely clear! - and subsequently gifting the works to one of Saltburn Jazz Club's long serving organisers. And here they are, on show in Saltburn! The exhibition runs for a little while yet. If you're tempted to visit Saltburn to view the exhibition it would be advisable to telephone ahead to confirm the opening hours - 01287 284025. 


As luck would have it, less than forty eight hours after the trip to Saltburn your correspondent was in London. So, with a couple of hours to kill before heading to Ronnie Scott's, it seemed like a good idea to catch an underground train to Paddington to find - and discreetly photograph - the house in which Beryl Bryden lived for a number of years. The photos show 166 Gloucester Terrace and the street sign, all of two minutes' walk from Paddington Station. Imagine how many British, possibly American, musicians called round for a cuppa! 

The photo of Beryl Bryden was taken at the 1982 Breda Jazz Festival by BSH Editor-in-Chief, LL. Russell

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2 comments :

Lance said...

This exhibition should be toured. It's of historical interest as a reminder that. Ottilie notwithstanding, Beryl was arguably the best female jazz/blues singer of her era. I well remember that open air 1982 session in Breda. I think Beryl was there on spec as her name doesn't appear on the programme but she appeared with several bands and, at the time of the photo, was singing West End Blues with the Guy Lafitte Quartet (I made notes on the programme!)
This was, I think, the year when the River City Jazzmen were top band and Stan Martin clicked for the Best Instrumentalist gong.
Beryl would have been 100 in May 2020. She should have been remembered.
As a whimsical, totally irreverent (and irrelevant) thought - if Beryl had been, like all the legendary blues singers, without a nickel or a lousy dime she could have always taken in washing!
The greatest - Saltburn must be the envy of the Trad Wing of the UK jazz scene!

Thursday, August 26, 2021 10:24:00 pm
Ashington Jazz Club said...

https://lance-bebopspokenhere.blogspot.com/2016/02/rip-tony-raine.html

Sunday, August 29, 2021 7:45:00 pm

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