Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 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

19,061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 925 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 30) 104.

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.

Sat 31: Saltburn Big Band + Durham Alumni Big Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Sat 31: East Coast Swing Band @ Cramlington Village Club, Park View, Cramlington NE23 6QJ. 7:30pm. £10.00. (from venue).

November

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Donna Hewitt (tenor sax, clarinet)
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Sarah Heneghan Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 03: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. guest tba
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: An Evening of Erykah Badu @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 7:30pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 05: Hejira - Celebrating Joni Mitchell @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Thu 05: Cut Capers @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).
Thu 05: Northern Reaches @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations). Pete Tanton, Joe Steels, Laurence Blackadder, John Hirst.
Thu 05: Fergus McCreadie @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Fri 06: Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel, West Allotment. 12 noon. Day 1/3.
Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Jazz Night: Bridget Metcalfe @ Saltburn House Hotel. From 6:00pm. Tickets: £40.00 (inc. a two-course meal & glass of Prosecco). Tel: 01287 658977.

Wednesday, August 04, 2021

The Quakerhouse says farewell to Ronnie Barnby - RIP

Everyone here at the Quakerhouse, Darlington, is deeply saddened to hear that our friend Ronnie Barnby sadly passed away this morning.

Ronnie started frequenting the Quakerhouse after he lost his wife and quickly became a firm supporter of the pub, the customers and all the musicians who visited us. As a drummer himself he enjoyed catching upp with the various bands and talking all things musical whenever he could. He also taught in the town and enjoyed catching up with some of his ex-pupils over a ‘half and a half’ or two.

Sleep easy Ronnie, you’ll be greatly missed by everyone here.

(Thanks to Jeremy McMurray for passing on this remembrance of a drummer who played for many years with the Dougie Pugh Quartet - Lance)

3 comments :

Unknown said...

Ron was lovely character ,will be sadley missed-Pete Ayton

Noel said...

Yes, a sad time we remember Ron being part of the Opus 3 jazz club in the sixties
in Darlington which was run by the late Joe Dodd
The Opus 4 jazz club in Darlington was named with a nod to Opus 3 which is presently run by Noel Robinson and Terry Coates both Opus 3 and Ron Barnby friends.RIP you lovely drumming man and total jazz buff.

Anonymous said...

It was with greatest sadness to learn of Ronnie passing. His enthusiasm for any form of jazz and his skill as drummer was infectious. I met him at the upstairs venue of the Bridge along with Joe Dodd always manning the door. Those were marvellous days . I asked Ron one Monday whether he gave lessons . Typical of Ron and his generosity he would and FOC. He knew I couldn’t afford to pay but was so pleased that I was keen to learn and simply wanted to encourage my interest. It’s many years since I left Darlington but one of my most cherished memories , which I will have forever , is Ron at the Jazz Club and the great bands he brought to the club. Those were memorable moments and Im sure there will be many out there who will remember the joy he brought to us all and will also cherish those wonderful memories with much love and affection.

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