Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 2026)

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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

From This Moment On

September.

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Monday, April 25, 2022

Preview: Darlington Jazz Festival (April 29-30)

After an absence of two years and more the Darlington Jazz Festival is Back in the Swing this weekend. It's a leaner event than in the past, however, there is no compromise on quality. Beginning on Friday evening (April 29) in the Dolphin Centre's Central Hall, the mighty Durham Alumni Big Band will be Back in the Swing of things, sharing the evening with the Durham Music Service Big Band

The Alumni will be playing some of the charts which were to be played a couple of years ago to commemorate VE Day 75 only for the pandemic to intervene. It's only now that the likes of A Foggy Day in London Town, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and Flying Home will, at last, be performed alongside numbers from the pads of Gordon Goodwin, Buddy Rich and Steve Waterman. The evening gets under way at 7:15pm (doors 6:45), £10 at the door or book in advance by calling the Dolphin Centre on 01325 388406. 

Saturday lunchtime (April 30, International Jazz Day!) at Number One Bar is unmissable! Returning as he does every year to his home town, trumpeter Matt Roberts will be playing the music of Miles Davis. Roberts will be focusing on the Prestige years (mid to late fifties) and the great quintet: John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. Cuts from Cookin'Relaxin'Steamin' and Workin' will be played by Roberts' all-star band featuring Jim Corry (tenor sax)Martin Longhawn (piano)Myra Brownbridge (double bass) and Sam Gardner (drums). And expect to hear something from Kind of Blue and Milestones. The one musician in Roberts' band which most people will be unfamiliar is Myra Brownbridge. Ms Brownbridge, a recent Trinity Laban graduate, is in the process of building an impressive cv - gigs at Ronnie's and the 606, working with Tony Kofi, Nikki Iles, Norma Winstone and others. If you're in Matt Roberts' band, you can play! 

To kick off the Saturday session at no.1 Skinnergate, Calvert  and the Old Fools will be playing an opening set from noon. What's more, it's free admission all afternoon. Donations are encouraged, so, you know what to do...dig deep! Darlington Jazz Festival is Back in the SwingRussell

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