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

Friday, December 17, 2021

Paul Edis Trio @ the Lit & Phil - Dec. 17

Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (bass); John Bradford (drums)

Last month, Matt Forster didn't make it to the Lit & Phil. This month (today) Matt Anderson didn't make it either. However, necessity being the mother of invention and jazz being one of that family, it all came good - more than good!

Last month, Ben Lawrence found himself thrown in at the deep end and emerging a star.This afternoon, Ben's former mentor and tutor via Jambone at Sage Gateshead Paul Edis found himself in a similar situation and did the biz - and how!

It had been awhile since I'd last heard Paul in a live situation and it was an absolute delight. 

Since moving and immersing himself into the jazz world of our capital city he's never looked back. In the USA to make it you go to New York. In the UK you go to London.

Today's one hour set comprised of, mainly, standards (hooray!) although, paradoxically, the best number of the afternoon was an Edis original - Out of the Rules that featured some unusual intervals and, being basically a blues some of the blue notes were even bluer than blue! Trust me - it worked! 

Andy Champion is an incredible bass player - but we all knew that - what struck me today was the sound he gets out of the beast. The tone, the resonance, the power, the precision ...

John Bradford seems to be on every gig these days and he slotted in easily even though he was new to the others. His take on One Note Samba added an interesting new dimension to the bossa nova.

A splendid afternoon that, apart from the music, was enhanced by Paul Edis' informed, and often amusing, introductions to the numbers - Lance

Nobody Else But Me; Bluesette; One Note Samba; In the Bleak Midwinter (solo piano); All of You; Outside of the Rules; Joy to the World  (piano solo); Fungi Mama.

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