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

Monday, October 18, 2021

Robin Sunflower @ The Railway, Stockport - Oct. 17

Robin Sunflower (harmonica); Adrian Ingram, Aiden Mintz (guitars); Nick ? (bass guitar)

Robin Sunflower started playing Harmonica during the 80’s with the legendary bluesman Victor Brox and his Blues Train, later forming his own groups one of which was the Woodbank Street Band which appeared at the Edinburgh Festival six years running, four years at Marlborough Jazz Festival and other festivals in Ireland and France.. He also does gigs with the Jamaican-influenced band Baked A La Ska, a unit that contains many of Manchester's top musicians.

 

Tonight the line-up featured the well-known guitarist, author and educator Adrian Ingram who always attracts a few guitar-playing fans and by 9pm the room was standing room only.  Sunflower has a liking for the tunes of Ellington/Strayhorn and played no less than four of these. He also told the audience that his big influence was the great Toots Thielemans and Robin played  Bluesette and Indian Nuts in tribute to the late  harmonica maestro.I counted a total of fifteen tunes played and I think I may have missed one which was not announced.  I was going to mention Mr Sunflowers’ unusual choice of attire; his trousers reminded me of a Jackson Pollock painting but I’m no fashion expert.!

 

Next Jazz night at the Railway is Tuesday Oct. 19 (tomorrow) with  The Ronnie Bottomley Trio.

 

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore; Bluesette; I’m in the Mood For Love; Mood Indigo; Angel Eyes; Sway; Body and Soul; Small Fry; Darktown Strutters Ball; On the Sunny Side of the Street; Song for my Father; Take the A Train; Indian Nuts; Caravan; I Put a Spell on You.

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