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

Monday, March 07, 2022

The Great North Big Band Jazz Festival - Friday March 4

The Great North Big Band Jazz Festival (GNBBJF) is back in business! Last year's event fell victim to the pandemic, fortunately this year's celebration of all things big bands was able to go ahead as planned. Saturday and Sunday would be competition days, this Friday evening session took the form of a concert double bill featuring Musicians Unlimited and the GNBBJF's Festival Big Band. 

Mick Donnelly's Musicians Unlimited is the big band down Teesside way and the band's annual appearance here in Chester le Street guaranteed a great start to a jam-packed weekend. MD Donnelly opened the band's extensive pad to select an eclectic mix of instrumental numbers plus a few arrangements for vocalist Jan Spencelayh to take a look at. MU's sections are chock-full of big hitters: in the trumpet section we heard GNBBJF director Bill Watson in scintillating form (trumpet and flugelhorn) not least on Gordon Goodwin's Jazz Police, Mick Shoulder (electric bass) cruising on the GG chart, similarly alto saxophonist Mark Toomey. Band MD Mick Donnelly made no apology for including In the Mood in the set list, especially as it was Doc Severinsen's chart, the reeds excelling, likewise Watson and fellow trumpeter Kevin Eland. 

Jan Spencelayh could be heard loud and clear on Lullaby of Broadway and a bold rendition of Cheek to Cheek. Musicians Unlimited's regular Sunday lunchtime engagement recently came to an end. The good news is the band will be be making a one-off return to the Park Inn on Park Road in Hartlepool. Subsequent dates, perhaps with a permanent venue, will be announced in due course. The initial date for your diary is Sunday 27 March (1:00pm).

Earlier in the evening, Bill Watson conducted the GNBBJF's Festival Band. The ensemble, comprising University of Sunderland students past and present working alongside established names on the regional jazz scene including Keiran Parnaby (trombone), and, making a guest appearance, pianist Marcus Brown, hit the ground running. What a great way to announce the return of one of the jewels in the big band jazz calendar! A Foggy Day in London Town, Louie Bellson's Brush Taps (a spotlight feature for the ever-impressive drummer John Bradford), Catch As Catch Can featuring an all-female reeds section, numbers from the NYJO pad, Bobby Shew's Blue (for Blue Mitchell), and it wouldn't be a big band concert without a Sammy Nestico chart. Yes, this was mainstream big band jazz at its best! Russell
at

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