Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Sunday, January 02, 2022

2022: a year of great jazz to come!

Future stars, established names, venues large and small, the year ahead holds great promise across the BSH region. The jazz year began bright and early on New Year's Day with the Vieux Carré Hot 4 at Spanish City and Brian Bennett's men will be there again today (Sunday, 12 noon) to kick-off their 2022 weekly residency. A week today (Jan 9) there is an opportunity to catch the new kids on the block as the Sam Toulson Quartet calls in at Jazz Co-op HQ (The Globe, Railway St, Newcastle). BSH heard alto saxophonist Sam and the Ho brothers - Edgar, piano, Oscar, bass - at the back end of last year sitting in at a Black Swan jam session. Toulson's gig is highly recommended! And on Jan 21 pianist John Law presents his Renaissance project in the imposing setting of Durham Cathedral.

February: it's non-stop jazz! Highlights...a Tenement Jazz Band double header (Sat 5) at Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club (12:30pm) & Prohibition Bar, Newcastle (8:00pm), NYJO playing the music of Amy Winehouse visits Sunderland's Fire Station (Thursday 10), Alan Barnes returns to Darlington's Opus 4 Jazz Club (Friday 11), Gosforth Civic Theatre presents Byron Wallen (Friday 18) and rounding off the month, there's a big one...Michael Lamb's magnificent Strictly Smokin' Big Band will be playing the music of Duke Ellington alongside special guest Pete Long at Sage Gateshead (Sat 26). Top tip, it's almost sold out, book here.

And to March: it's non-stop jazz! A favourite event of this, or any, year takes place over the weekend of Fri 4 - Sun 6. The Great North Big Band Jazz Festival is a feast of big band jazz and it never fails to impress. It's competitive, no question abut it, but it's all about supporting the many bands who travel a distance (some closer to home than others!) to take part in a marvellous occasion. From the youngest musicians (some not yet in their teens) to senior, established outfits, the event at Park View Community Centre in Chester le Street is unmissable! Mid-month, three concerts on successive evenings look like the pick of the rest - Ronnie Scott's All Stars appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall (Thursday 17), the Binker Golding Quartet can be heard at Sage Gateshead (Fri 18) and on Saturday 19 Will Todd's Passion Music featuring Voices of Hope and members of the Strictly Smokin' Big Band will be performed in All Saints, Church, Newcastle. 

That's the first quarter of 2022, there is much more to come.
Russell

No comments :

Blog Archive