Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

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, October 07, 2021

Hot Club du Nord: LIVE Concerts at Home @ King's Hall, Newcastle University - Oct. 7

Hot Club du Nord: Emma Fisk (violin); James Birkett (guitar); Dave Harris (guitar); Bruce Rollo (double bass)

The applause rang out across the nation as Hot Club du Nord played a LIVE Concerts at Home gig in King's Hall. The Armstrong Building venue has yet to readmit audiences. Today's livestream premiere performance was actually recorded yesterday in an empty hall save for Newcastle University's AV technicians on hand to ensure things ran smoothly. All that was required of Emma Fisk and the boys was to play - and play they did! 

A familiar set list, numbers heard time and time again, they'll be just as good next time round! Opening with Dinah, the audio-visual presentation couldn't have been better. Violinist Emma handled the announcements, the 'boys' - guitarists James Birkett and Dave Harris, and bassist Bruce Rollo - came up with the goods, our quartet could hear the cheers emanating from living rooms up and down the land. Emma on Nuages - wow! Dave Harris impressing on Sweet Chorus, Dr Birkett likewise on the set closer, Undecided. The man at the back, Mr Bruce Rollo, cool as you like, only stepping forward, metaphorically speaking, on the last number to demonstrate the art of slap bass playing. 

If you're looking for a cast iron cert of a performance, look no further than Hot Club du Nord.
Russell 

Set list: DinahBody and SoulSwing 42NuagesBellevilleExactly Like YouBlue DragSweet ChorusUndecided.

1 comment :

NeilC said...

I tuned in for this they should have all received honorary First Class degrees in Music for their performance . The playing was just sublime and crisp what a great way to spend a lunchtime , the 45 minutes flew over.

The only negative for me is I feel for the band with the only audience being the two technical support people streaming the video . It must be so so hard to play a song and not be met with the cheers and applause they would have without doubt received if an audience were present .

Lets hope better times arrive for all of these performers and we get as close as possible to pre-pandemic gigs expediently .

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