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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

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

Friday, December 24, 2021

Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms - Xmas Eve

Maureen Hall (vocals); Gavin Lee (clarinet); Don Fairley (trombone); Brian Chester (keyboards); Tom Darbyshire (double bass, vocals); George Davidson (drums, vocals) + John Broddle (vocals)

Christmas Eve, the Monkseaton Arms, Rendezvous Jazz, full house. Maureen Hall's long-established outfit continues to pull in the punters, here in Monkseaton, over at the Red Lion in Earsdon, and on occasional forays further afield, often taking a bus load of supporters for a weekend away.* This afternoon Maureen had the A-team out. To her left, Gavin Lee, clarinet, to her right, trombonist Don Fairley. The rhythm section - pianist Brian Chester, string bassist Tom Darbyshire, drummer George Davidson - reported for duty, ready and willing to don Santa/silly hats. 

Much of the set list featured requests, some of the numbers toasting absent friends, some remembering folk who, sadly, are no longer with us. Royal Garden Blues was as good a way as any to start this Christmas Eve session. Lee and Fairley shared the bulk of the solo spots, Chester too. The band singers numbered three, Maureen, of course (Light from the Lighthouse a highlight, Maureen has a penchant for a spiritual), George Davidson (It's a Long Way from Tipperary an oddity, but hey, everyone sang along) and, rather effectively, Tom Darbyshire taking a chorus on Darktown Strutters' Ball. 

John Broddle called in for a pint, singing just the one number - After You've Gone. Rendezvous Jazz at the Monkseaton Arms is a no nonsense, foot-tapping Dixieland session. Give it a try, it's free admission, do buy a raffle ticket or three, top tip...arrive early for a good seat!        

* Rendezvous Jazz will be up in Northumberland for a two night stay at the Riverdale Hall Hotel in Bellingham, Friday 18 to Sunday 20 March next year. For full details call Riverdale Hall on 01434 220254. And before then, Maureen and the boys will be back at the Monkseaton Arms next Friday (New Year's Eve) at one o'clock. Russell    

Set list: Royal Garden Blues; Dr Jazz; I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus; Bourbon Street Parade; Careless Love; I Wan'na be Like You; Clarinet Marmalade; Christmas Island; After You've Gone; Darktown Strutters' Ball; Are You Lonesome Tonight?; Hiawatha; It's a Long Way to Tipperary; Light from the Lighthouse; Canal Street Blues; Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me.  
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