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

18083 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1047 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 14), 61.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

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

Saturday, October 02, 2021

Knats + Hand to Mouth @ GCT - Oct 1

Ferg Kilsby (trumpet); Josh Mitchell-Rayner (keyboards); Stan Woodward (bass); King David Ike-Elechi (drums)

Festival gigs across town, gigs here, there and everywhere, including a non-festival, somewhat under-the-radar free admission double bill at Gosforth Civic Theatre. Situated just off Gosforth High Street in Newcastle, GCT presents an array of cultural events and on this Friday evening a large crowd gathered to hear two contrasting sets. 

Knats' recent emergence, seemingly out of nowhere, is one of the good news stories in these pandemic times. Four teeenagers - trumpet, keyboards, bass and drums - playing an approximation of seventies' jazz rock charts (much of it original material) alongside numbers by the likes of Roy Ayers and Kendrick Lamar, demonstrated a remarkably high level of ability. Song titles were largely absent from front man Stan Woodward's introductions, no matter, it's the music that mattered. 

Shrouded in clouds of dry ice, Ferg Kilsby, all of sixteen, blew loud, reverb-heavy trumpet. The fourteen/fifteen year old Ferg cut a shy, timid figure when first sitting in at jam sessions with the big boys and girls. Here at GCT the sixteen year old veteran played without fear. Tremendous! On the opposite side of the stage, pianist Josh Mitchell-Rayner supplied all the chords and more, frequent eye contact with his band mates confirming they were as one. The rhythm boys - bassist Stan Woodward and drummer King David Ike-Elechi - hit on a groove and didn't let up all night. 

Hand to Mouth: Lindsay Hannon (vocals); Bradley Johnston (guitar)

Earlier, Hand to Mouth gave another concert masterclass in the art of intimate, duo performance. Vocalist Lindsay Hannon and guitarist Bradley Johnston revisited their Ella Fitzgerald-Joe Pass set. From first note to last, it would prove to be an absolute joy to listen to. The Very Thought of You - wow! Ella and Joe live! Dindi, Ellington's All Too Soon (lyrics Carl Sigman), a wonderful verse intro to Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, Hand to Mouth were on top form. 

Some other Time sang Lindsay, I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues asserted Lindsay. Yes, indeed! Hand to Mouth should tour, they should play festivals. And wouldn't it be great if they recorded an album?!  Russell

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